The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MTP) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has two vacancies for PhD candidates within different disciplines of Systems Engineering/New Product Development, funded through the Centre for Research-based Innovation, SFI-CELECT (Research Centre for Effective Engineering and Learning in Complex Systems).

The positions are 3-year doctoral research fellowships starting in 2026/2027. Each PhD candidate will be embedded in the research activities of SFI-CELECT and will work closely with NTNU, University of Sout-Eastern Norway (USN), University of Agder (UiA), Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and leading industrial partners in the product manufacturing, defence and aerospace, and maritime sectors.

You will be supervised by Professor Torgeir Welo.

SFI-CELECT (Research Centre for Effective Engineering and Learning in Complex Systems) started in 2026 and is funded by the Research Council of Norway and industrial partners. The centre is led by the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) in close collaboration with NTNU and UiA, and involves a broad consortium of leading companies across multiple industrial sectors. Through research on new methodologies for effective engineering and learning in complex systems, we aim to accelerate innovation and value creation in industry by developing better methods and smarter tools to ‘do more with less— and faster’. SFI-CELECT runs from 2026 to 2033 and is Norway’s most ambitious research initiative within innovation in complex systems.

The primary objective of SFI-CELECT is to leap the innovation and product realization capabilities in some of Norway’s leading industries by enhancing how new products are developed and managed. Operating within an integrated academic-industry ecosystem, SFI-CELECT will generate research-based methodologies, methods and tools for effective and efficient product innovation and realization, embracing the complexity and dynamics in today’s business environments where digitalization and AI tools play an increasingly important role.

A key aim of CELECT is to establish an integrated academic-industry learning and educational ecosystem, where PhDs and researchers work together across disciplines to solve complex problems of high industrial importance using industry-as-a-laboratory as the research context.

Education and competence building are central pillars of CELECT. The centre will educate more than 30 PhD and postdoctoral researchers and over 120 MSc students, strengthening Norway’s international position in new-product innovation. Work location for the two positions posted here is NTNU – Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Trondheim, Norway.

Since the outcome of NPD processes is not only the physical artifact but also the creation, acquisition and transfer of knowledge, cross-functional knowledge flows are central to NPD effectiveness in (quality of decisions and solutions) and efficiency (speed and ‘first-time-right’). This PhD will research how such cross-functional knowledge flows can be enabled, managed and leveraged in contemporary NPD settings where collaborations are increasingly mediated by shared digital tools rather than co-located interaction. Accordingly, s/he will investigate how organizations can make NPD work processes more productive by better understanding where digital tools has their limitations. Moreover, the candidate will determine which countermeasures that can be established to stimulate and improve interactions across functional boundaries to make work flows more tangible and transparent with regard to identifying potential waste sources and lack of value.

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.

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 580 000,- 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 in Engineering within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out 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 professional 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 bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

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 Professor Torgeir Welo, e-mail: torgeir.welo@ntnu.no.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Senior Consultant Hedda Winnberg, e-mail: hedda.winnberg@ntnu.no

Application deadline: 07.11.2026

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

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.