项目介绍

2025年5月4日

About the position

Would you like to work together with researchers and industry to shape the future of sustainable materials? The Department of Manufacturing and Civil Engineering (IVB) at NTNU in Gjøvik has a vacancy for a 3-year PhD position for development of methodology for experimental X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) studies of moisture phenomena. The X-ray CT scanner at NTNU Gjøvik is a unique equipment for non-destructive monitoring of materials and will now be developed for studying hygroscopic bio-based construction materials (e.g. agro-fibres, cellulose, or solid wood) and introduce a methodology to study dynamic moisture flow to detect moisture variations, material distortion and damage in real-time. Moisture fluctuations in hygroscopic materials often cause damage and considerable economic loss.

As a PhD Candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, in and outside academia. Joining our team offers a unique opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research in material science and work in a supportive and innovative environment at the IVB department.  The research is multidisciplinary and will combine the PhD project with research by senior scientists at NTNU and international research organizations. The regional industry will support the project with industrial knowledge and the relevance of the project. 

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About the project

The vision of the project is that products derived from Norwegian forest and agricultural biomass will replace fossil and non-renewable materials currently used in building applications. Additionally, the use of bio-based materials will increase to a level that supports society’s sustainable development. The project will also prevent future mistakes in timber construction due to increased knowledge about the biomaterial’s hygroscopic nature.

This project is founded on the premise that a deeper understanding of material-water interactions can lead to significant advancements in wood and other bio-based materials for construction purposes. The aim is to conduct research of the highest international level to produce new knowledge on hygroscopic and capillary moisture transport in materials based on forest or agricultural biomass. In particular, this is strategically relevant for new wood-based building materials being introduced to the market. Bio-based materials, in general, are strongly hygroscopic and porous in their structure. The overall objective is to introduce CT scanning in temperature- and humidity-controlled environments, combined with image processing, as a powerful tool for continuous non-destructive and non-contact 4D studies of bio-based building materials exposed to water.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
• Method development for CT studies: The CT scanner and analytical tools will be further developed and supplemented by additional image-processing algorithms for studying liquid flow in real time. Development of experimental design and test rigs. Evaluation of accuracy in measurement, and the reliability and repeatability of experiments.
• Experimental studies of moisture flow: Studies of biobased materials such as wood-based building materials, porous bio-based insulation boards made of wood fibers from pulp, chips, recycled papers, and agriculture fibers. Studies in both the hygroscopic and the capillary range to achieve flow and permeability data for solid and porous materials at different climates.
•  Visualization of changes in geometry and density due to moisture changes in real-time. Testing the interaction between geometry and density changes in static cases. 4D models showing how 3D capillary flows and volume changes will be visualized from CT data of materials exposed to different boundary conditions during temporally and spatially offset sampling. Evaluation of the magnitude of the error introduced by the spatial deformation of the samples about the temporally segmented sampling. 
• Characteristics of biomaterials (considerable industry involvement). To highlight the practical significance of the moisture flow data and the real-time visualization of moisture flow in the studied materials under different climate conditions, the tested materials will be compared and related to their application. 
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the research group
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have an academically relevant background within Applied Physics, Material Science, Mechanical Engineering, Wood Science and Technology, or equivalent.
• You must have a Master’s degree within Applied Physics, Material Science, Mechanical Engineering, Wood Science and Technology, or equivalent. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master’s level. Master’s students can apply, but the master’s degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position.
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master’s degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty’s Doctoral Programme https://www.ntnu.edu/iv/doctoral-programme
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English. 

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations for the Universities and Colleges Act (university and colleges regulations) and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Expertise in material science in a relevant field
• Previous involvement in research projects related to materials science, especially those focusing on bio-based construction materials
• Experience in material testing is considered a plus, specially experience in CT scanning
• Proficiency in programming with commercial software such MathCad, Python etc., is highly desirable
• Experience in publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals, with a preference for publications in the field biobased materials, materials science, or other engineering subjects
• Knowledge of Norwegian language is a plus

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to: 

• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject
• You are analytical, structured, accurate, efficient, and work independently
• You thrive at a high pace of work, and you have the ability to initiate and carry out activities 
• You have a clear and positive communication style and good collaboration skills, and present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback
• You are development-oriented and see opportunities and solutions rather than obstacles and problems 
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

We see you as:

• Collaborative and team player
• Creative Problem-Solver
• Strong Communicator
• Research-driven and Committed Individual

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• As a public employee, you have favourable benefits as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)

You will be employed as a PhD Candidate at NTNU and will have access to employee benefits and discounts. 

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population’s collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. 

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. 

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality. 

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK  536 200,-  per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The employment period is 3 years. 

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary academic and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control(legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed. 

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English.

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees
• CV 
• Copy of Master’s thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master’s thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master’s degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page)
• Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work
• Possibly certificates
• Names and contact information of three relevant referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both Bachelor’s and Master’s education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well. 

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU’s social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Dick Sandberg, Professor, dick.sandberg@ntnu.no

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Kristine Rognlid Hagaseth, HR Advisor, kristine.r.hagaseth@ntnu.no

Application deadline: 16.05.2025

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For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 
 

Gjøvik, a charming town by the shores of Lake Mjøsa, is known for its beautiful nature and rich cultural offerings. The town boasts a vibrant community with excellent schools, modern healthcare services, and a variety of recreational activities. With its strategic location, just a short drive from Oslo, Gjøvik combines the best of urban life and natural experiences. Here, you’ll find a dynamic business environment and exciting career opportunities in a setting that values work-life balance.