Postdoctoral Fellow in AI Enhancement of Game-based Learning

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

     

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About the position

We offer an exciting 3-year or 4-year (subject to available teaching and duty work) postdoctoral position that gives you the opportunity to develop a strong profile as researcher. You will also gain valuable experience that might be relevant for your further career.

The purpose of a postdoctoral position is to build up a researcher profile that qualifies for a position as associate professor. The position may also offer additional skills that are relevant to the postdoctoral fellow's future career.

Apply for this position to become part of our research environment and take the next step in your career with us.

The postdoctoral Fellowship is part of the newly established AI Centre for the Empowerment of Human Learning (AI LEARN).

Six national research centers for Artificial Intelligence are set to launch in the fall of 2025. These centers will foster interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers to address societal challenges, understand the impact of AI, develop new technologies, and drive innovation across both the business and public sectors.

This initiative is established and financed through the government's significant investment in artificial intelligence over the next five years (regjeringen.no) (in Norwegian).

Your immediate leader will be the leader of the Software Engineering unit.

About the project 

AI LEARN is a new Centre dedicated to the empowerment of human learning through responsible, human-centred artificial intelligence. In a world where AI systems are reshaping how we learn, work and participate in democracy, our centre tackles the promise and peril of hybrid intelligence—human and machine working and learning together. AI LEARN’s mission is to establish an internationally leading interdisciplinary hub that advances foundational research, responsible innovation, robust governance and broad capacity building.

This postdoctoral fellowship is associated with the third cluster of the centre, that focuses on Technological Advancement. The goal is to investigate how to evolve advanced, human-centered AI technology to empower human learning, including designing, developing and evaluating systems and models to enhance learning through AI technology.

The Postdoc fellow will engage with developing models, frameworks and technologies that facilitates more efficient development of rich, interactive, personalized and game-based learning experiences. A part of this work is also to consider opportunities for innovation related to start-up companies.  This work in conducted in collaboration with a PhD student.

Moreover, they will employ extensive case studies in collaborating partners (schools, public and private sectors) and engage with the analysis of the collected data. Moreover, the postdoctoral fellow will also support a smooth collaboration with the relevant national and international partners (e.g., communicate with the relevant industry and the public sector partners, organize international workshops, common research proposals).

Duties of the position

• Carry out the relevant research tasks of the AI LEARN Centre.
• Produce relevant academic publications and popular science dissemination.
• Participate in the SE research group and the AI LEARN Centre.
• Participate and lead research funding applications and report on progress to funding sources. 
• Participate in relevant international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions.
• Mentoring students (at a MSc and PhD levels), helping them with their research projects, and advising on methodology and academic writing.
• Organize dissemination and communication activities within the AI LEARN centre.

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a doctoral degree in Game-based learning and AI, or a closely related field, such as Serious Games, Learning Technologies, Interaction Design, with Human–AI Interaction as a central focus.
• If you are in the final phase of your doctorate and can document that the thesis has been submitted or that the defense date has been confirmed, your application can be considered even if you have not defended. NOTE: Documentation of the obtained doctorate must be presented before you can take up the position.
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English equivalent level. Applicants must provide evidence of good English language skills, written and spoken. The following tests can be used as such documentation: TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). Minimum scores are:
  • TOEFL: 600 (paper-based test), 92 (Internet-based test)
  • IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS test accepted)
  • CAE/CPE: grade B or A
• In extraordinary circumstances, formal documentation of language skills can be relinquished. In such cases, the candidate’s language skills will be assessed in a personal interview.
• A solid track record of top-tier publications in the topic (e.g., LAK, AIED, CHI, C&A, BJET, IEEE TLT).
   

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

If you do not already have educational competence that meets the requirements for a position as associate professor in Norway, NTNU will arrange for you to acquire such competence during the employment period. In such cases, you will also be assigned relevant teaching as part of the career-promoting work.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations concerning the degrees of philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)for general criteria for the position.

As a result of the new Act relating to universities and university colleges with associated regulations of 01/08/2024, NTNU has, during a transitional period (for decisions on employment in recruitment positions before 1 August 2025), chosen to use the terms of employment in the old regulations of 31 January 2006 no. 102 on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, research fellow, scientific assistant and specialist candidate

Preferred selection criteria

The following qualifications will be considered as an advantage:

• Relevant experience in obtaining and/or implementing research projects (e.g., EU, NFR or other competitive projects).
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian.

Emphasis will be put on personal qualities and potential as a researcher. High importance will also be attached to personal communication and cooperation skills.

Personal characteristics

Working as a Postdoctoral fellow requires that you

• Ability to work independently as well as in teams 
• Work structured, set goals and make plans to achieve them 
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals 
• Engage and contribute constructively with feedback 
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject 
• Are flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer 

• Being part of, AI LEARN, an exciting nationwide network of researchers
• An exciting job with an important social mission
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment 
• Career guidance throughout the postdoctoral program and together with you we will prepare a career plan, which containsthe skills and knowledge you will acquire
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues 
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a Postdoctoral Fellow at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

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

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 633 400,- 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 - 4 years, depending on whether there is a need to include courses within educational competence. (including career promotion work / teaching duties) 

The position is conditional on the successful finalization of the grant agreement with the Research Council of Norway. 

As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to 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. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request. 

The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's-, Master's- and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your PhD, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or confirmation that your PhD thesis has been submitted. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Information about education and relevant experience (academic CV).
• A copy of the doctoral thesis. If you are close to submitting, you can attach a draft of the thesis. 
• A short research plan (approx. 1000 words) outlining the main research challenges in designing AI technologies, models and framework to support efficient creation of game-based learning applications and content. 
• Publications and any other work that the applicant wishes to be taken into account should clearly indicate the applicant's contribution. (indicate the three most representative/relevant for the position).
• Possible recommendation letters.
• Name and contact information of three 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. Description of the documentation requiredcan 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 works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

If you have had leave or another break in your career, it is important that this is stated in your application so that the selection committee can take this into account and that the amount of your research may be reduced as a result.

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

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in 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 list of applicants, 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 have any questions about the position, please contact: 
Prof. Alf Inge Wang, email: alfw@ntnu.no.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact the HR of the Dept. of CS, e-mail: hr@idi.ntnu.no.
 

Application deadline: 15.12.2025

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.