This is NTNU

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

About the job

For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.

As part of the NRC IPN grant “FramSki – The future of responsible skiing” (FramSki), we have a vacancy for a 3-year PhD position at the Senter for Sports Facility and Sports Technology (SIAT), hosted by the NTNU, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The transition to fluorine-free ski waxes in competitive and recreational skiing demands innovative solutions for reducing ski-snow friction. In the FramSki project, we tackle friction at the macro, micro and nano level in an interdisciplinary research project in collaboration with leading industry partners.

This specific PhD project focuses on the development of innovative ski designs and ski sole structuring techniques. You will be part of an innovative team of makers, and you will learn a lot about ski technology and innovation. In this project you will combine analytical thinking, advanced ski-snow friction testing and fast prototyping to experimentally develop innovative new ski designs and ski-sole structuring techniques.

Your immediate leader is Professor

Duties of the position

• Plan, execute and document the exploration of a radical a modular ski construction technique for UHMWPE ski soles
• Plan, execute and document the exploration of a radical a modular ski construction
• Participate in the friction testing on full-scale skis in friction laboratory
• Participate in the supervision of Master students and the day-to-day running of the laboratory
• Write academic papers and submit them to international scientific journals

Required selection criteria

• You must have a professionally relevant background in mechanical engineering, product design or equivalent.
• Documented experience in (fast) prototyping or development of experimental set-ups
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at master's level
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master's degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education
• Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented by 1th October 2024 
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program (link)
• Proficiency in oral and written English. In the case of equal qualifications, applicants with a Scandinavian language might be preferred due to the Norwegian industrial partners in the consortium

For applicants that are working on their last year of a relevant NTNU MSc program there is a possibility to combine this PhD position with their master project through “integrated PhD programme”. See https://i.ntnu.no/wiki/-/wiki/Norsk/Integrert+ph.d.-utdanning for more details. These applications need to apply here and state this option in the motivation letter. 

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Phd candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant 

Preferred selection criteria

• Practical experience within mechatronics, and experience with prototyping techniques such as 3D printing, Microprocessor programming (for example Arduino, Raspberry Pi) 
• Good programming skills (Python, Matlab, or equivalent)
• Experience with cross-country skiing

Personal characteristics

• Acquire new knowledge quickly, as well as using existing knowledge in new ways
• Develop effective, sensible and practical solutions to problems
• Stays positive and enthusiastic, even when encountering set-backs 
• Initiates activities and projects without needing support from others
• You are collaborative, helpful and will contribute to maintain a kind working-environment

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

• Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• An open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 532 200 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years.



Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Engineering (https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phiv) within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period. 

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The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.

 After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must be attached to the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

The application must include:

• Motivation letter 
• CV and certificates
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not completed the master's degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted
• A copy of the master's thesis. If you recently have 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
• Name and contact information of three referees
• If you have publications or other relevant research work

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. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, please attach this as well.

We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your efforts in the joint work, you must enclose a short description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is our strength. We want to recruit people with different competencies, educational backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to solving our social responsibilities within education and research. We will facilitate for our employees’ needs.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality. 

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The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation 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.

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As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself 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 reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Alex Klein-Paste, email alex.klein-paste@ntnu.no or Martin Steinert, email martin.steinert@ntnu.no 

 If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Tone Måsøval Arntzen e-mail: tone.m.arntzen@ntnu.no

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.  

Application deadline: 15.08.2024

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

We conduct research and teaching in civil and transportation engineering, technical planning, structural engineering, water and wastewater engineering and hydraulic engineering. Graduates from our programmes become employees – in both the public and private sectors – with a sustainability mindset combined with competitive knowledge and skills. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.