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.

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About the project

The position is part of the Norwegian Maritime AI Center at NTNU, a strategic initiative that aims to accelerate the operationalization of AI in maritime value chains. The demand for safe and sustainable maritime activities, as well as the shortage of crew and engineers, are key drivers for change in the maritime sector. At the same time, there is a pull for growth, increase deficiency and profitability, while managing volatility in the markets. Moreover, the sector is critically important for global supply chains and security in a tense geopolitical situation.

To demonstrate and prototype maritime AI solutions, the center addresses a diverse and impactful set of use cases, including: logistics, shipping and business transactions; ship design and construction; voyage planning and optimization; condition monitoring and maintenance; crew training; maritime traffic and ship surveillance; decarbonization and energy management; and autonomous ships and remote control.

The maritime industry is undergoing a rapid transformation with the introduction of autonomous and remotely operated vessels. Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), often referred to as sea drones, open new opportunities for efficiency, safety, and flexibility in maritime operations, but also introduce fundamental challenges related to guidance, control, coordination, and human–machine interaction.

This PhD position addresses these challenges through the development of high- Technology Readiness Level (TRL) guidance and control systems for collaborative USV operations, with a strong emphasis on real-world implementation and full-scale experimental validation.

The overall goal of the PhD project is to design, implement, and experimentally validate collaborative path planning and execution methods for multiple USVs operating in complex maritime environments, taking into account heterogeneous vessel capabilities, operational constraints, and interaction with remote human operators. A core ambition is to mature the results beyond simulation and laboratory prototypes by integrating the developed methods into the operational Remote Operation Center (ROC) at campus and conducting full-scale sea trials in close collaboration with the maritime industry. The project will therefore emphasize end-to-end system validation, including real-time execution onboard vessels, robust communication and supervision links between USVs and the ROC, and systematic testing of performance, safety, and human-in-the-loop workflows under realistic operational conditions.

Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? 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.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About the position

The position is closely linked to Fjordlab, NTNU’s full-scale maritime test infrastructure, and to the development of a state-of-the-art ROC for unmanned and remotely operated vessels. This facility enables full-scale testing at sea, combined with high-fidelity simulation.

Through the Norwegian Maritime AI Center and the department, the PhD candidate will be part of a large interdisciplinary research environment, collaborating with researchers across control engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence, human factors, and maritime operations, and with a strong network of industrial partners and operational stakeholders.

The PhD candidate will work at the intersection of:

Multi-agent guidance, navigation, and control
Collaborative and formation-based path planning
Collision avoidance and maritime traffic interaction
Remote operation and human-in-the-loop systems
High-fidelity simulation and full-scale experiments

A key strength of the position is the tight integration between theory, software, and real-world experiments. The research will not be limited to simulations or theoretical models, but will result in a functional system that is integrated into NTNU’s ROC and tested on real unmanned vessels at sea.

The candidate will have direct exposure to industrial use cases & operational challenges, real maritime data & full-scale experiments and technology development beyond academic prototypes.

While the primary experimental platform is USVs, the developed methods are expected to be scalable to larger manned and unmanned vessels, making the results relevant for a broad range of maritime applications.

Duties of the position

Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
Academic publications and popular science dissemination
Participate in the research group and activities at the department and the Norwegian Maritime AI Center
Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
Participate in relevant dissemination activities for the industry

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

You must have a relevant Master's degree in computer science, cybernetics, robotics, control engineering, marine technology or a closely related field. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level.
You must have solid knowledge of control systems and robotics and be able to demonstrate strong programming skills.
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 maybe considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
Master’s students may apply, but the Master thesis must be submitted and approved before employment and must meet the formal requirements for admission to a PhD programme.
You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme.

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 NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions 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

Practical experience from industry, applied research, or experimental projects related to robotics, autonomous systems, or maritime technology
Experience with robotics software frameworks such as ROS/ROS2
Experience with multi-agent systems, optimalcontrol, or model predictive control
Experience with simulation environments, digital twins, or real-time systems
Interest in innovation, technology development, and applied research

Personal characteristics

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

Work independently and in research teams
Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
Present and discuss your research with other professionals
Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback
Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity
Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject
Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions
Having good interpersonal skills that contributes to a friendly and inclusive work environment

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,-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.

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.

The application must include:

CV
Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
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.
Project outline containing proposals for an overall description of research questions, theoretical perspectives, methodological design for the project and progress plan (maximum 1500 words/4 pages)
Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work
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 work 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).

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.

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 Professor Øivind Kåre Kjerstad, email: oivind.k.kjerstad@ntnu.no

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR & PhD Coordinator Lara Bromann, email: lara.bromann@ntnu.no

Application deadline: 15.03.2026

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

Ålesund, known for its unique Art Nouveau architecture and spectacular nature, is a gem on Norway's west coast. The city offers a vibrant cultural life, modern facilities, and a dynamic business environment. With its strategic location by the sea, Ålesund provides a perfect balance between urban living and natural experiences. Here, you will find excellent schools, top-notch healthcare services, and a wide range of recreational activities. Ålesund is an ideal place for both career and family life, with a safe and inclusive community.

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