PhD Candidate within Geothermal Energy for Deicing Roads

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

   

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About the position

The Geotechnical Engineering Group at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTNU, has a vacancy for a 3-year PhD position for research on deicing of roads by utilising shallow geothermal energy for Norwegian ground and climatic conditions. The Geotechnical Engineering Group is well known for its work in the field of quick clays, slope stability, energy geostructures and advanced numerical methods. The group has a modern geotechnical laboratory as well as drill rigs and equipment for advanced field work.

This project is a part of EU funded MSCA Doctoral Network called GENIUS (Energy Geostructures Integration: Buildings, Infrastructure and Underground Storage). GENIUS will train the doctoral candidates to become pioneering experts in conceptualization, design and implementation of energy geostructure (EG) applications for heating/cooling buildings and thermal energy storage. The main aim of this project is to investigate the possibility of using geothermal energy, coming from EGs close to the road, to limit or prevent icing and damage to roads. The specific objectives of the research project are (i) Identify different climatic areas relevant to the study and characterize weather conditions to be used as boundary and initial conditions in modelling; (ii) Develop thermo-hydro-mechanical ( THM) model considering the climatic conditions to investigate feasibility and efficiency of the EG technology; (iii) (3) Develop THM numerical model to investigate the road damage mitigation through the proposed EG based technology. 

Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open exciting career opportunities in Geotechnical Engineering and Energy Geostructures? 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 a professor.

About the project

GENIUS pioneers a comprehensive approach to address the biggest global challenge the energy sector is facing: the transition to renewable-based, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems. Space heating and cooling currently makes up the world's largest energy sector, accounting for approximately 50 % of the final energy consumption. This figure is expected to grow rapidly over the coming decades due to economic and population growth, and inevitable increase in urbanisation. At the same time, the world is experiencing one of the most severe global energy crises in history, impacting fossil fuels’ availability and cost.

More than ever, there is an urgent need for innovative technologies to harvest renewable energy resources, to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels. Energy Geostructures (EGs) represent an effective means to meet the world request of less dependence on unsustainable resources by being designed as dual-purpose elements targeting geothermal heat exchange and structural support for buildings. Yet, their wider use has been hindered by the lack of (i) sustainable expertise pipeline in the field of energy geotechnology, (ii) technical knowledge regarding the integration of energy geostructures to buildings and infrastructure, (iii) scientific knowledge for the integration of energy geostructures with other underground structures.

GENIUS is Funded by the European Union as a part of the Horizon Europe Programme, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks 2024, GENIUS will train fifteen Doctoral Candidates as the next generation of researchers to become pioneers in integrating energy geostructures within urban systems - contributing directly to Europe’s climate-neutral future. 

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education within 3 years
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the Geotechnical Engineering research group
• Participating in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at national and foreign educational institutions

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a relevant master’s degree in geotechnical engineering. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master 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
• Relevant experience in the field of thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) behavior of soils and/or Energy Geostructures (EGs)
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme
• You must be able to provide proof of English proficiency at the time of interview. You can meet the English language proficiency requirements: if you have a degree that was taught and assessed in English or a certificate of English language test (such as IELTS, TOEFL) with high score
• Being able to provide proof of meeting the Mobility Rule of EU MCSA which requires the candidate must not have resided or carried out their main activity – work, studies, etc. – in Norway for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date
• You must not be in possession of a doctoral degree on the recruitment date 

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

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering
• Experience in analytical methods and numerical modelling
• Proficiency in at least one programming language, e.g. C++, Python
• Experience in geotechnical laboratory and field work

Personal characteristics

• Highly motivated to do research
• Work independently
• Challenges the status quo and takes new initiatives
• Able to work with others in a team
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• An exciting job with an importantmission 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
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)  

As a PhD Candidate 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.

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 to complete the doctoral work. There is no possibility of further extension to the employment after 3 years. The position is conditional on external funding.

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 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 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 certificates for bachelor’s and master’s degrees (and certified English translations if the original not in English)​
• 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
• Research proposal for the project (2 pages) 
• Possibly publications etc. other relevant published 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).

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 Rao Martand Singh, email: rao.m.singh@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Martine Sulen, email: martine.sulen@ntnu.no

Application deadline: 28.12.2025

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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.