PhD position on upscaling of permafrost thaw-greenhouse gas emissions

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About the position

There is a vacancy for a PhD position on the topic of upscaling of permafrost thaw and greenhouse gas emissions. The position is based at the Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway. 

The position is for a fixed-term period of 3 years. 

The candidate will join the ongoing collaborative research project on the topic of understanding permafrost thaw and greenhouse gas exchange in northern Norway. 

The goal for this position is a completed doctoral education towards obtaining a doctoral degree in Biology at NTNU on the topic of upscaling of permafrost thaw and greenhouse gas emissions. The candidate will work with ample of existing observational data at different levels to upscale the processes and quantify larger scale greenhouse gas emissions. There is an opportunity to work together with a larger group of researchers within ongoing projects at the department. In addition to upscaling using existing datasets, there is a possibility to develop one of the chapters of the PhD based on the direction of the research interest of the student. Some of the examples include, but not limited to, conducting field observations to constrain seasonal emissions such as winter CH4 emissions, using AI tools to develop upscaling tools or upscale to circumpolar region, or using climate modeling such as the Norwegian Earth System Model to constrain models and observations. 

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About the project

The PhD candidate will join the Department of Biology and physically located at NTNU office in Trondheim. The candidate will be under the direct supervision by Associate Professor, Dr. Hanna Lee at NTNU and Professor, Dr. Sebastian Westermann at the University of Oslo will be the co-supervisor. The candidate will join the terrestrial ecosystem ecology and modeling group led by Dr. Lee within the Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution research division. The group uses both observations and modeling to understand how climate change affects terrestrial energy, water, and carbon cycling. Particularly, the research topics focus on high latitude ecosystems undergoing permafrost degradation. The candidate will have the opportunity to conduct parts of the PhD work at an observational site located in northern Norway. At the site, the group conducts field campaigns to understand how permafrost thaw and local hydrological changes affect greenhouse gas emissions. The research site in northern Norway is a collaborative working environment including five different Norwegian and international groups. 

Duties of the position

• Develop scientific competence and leadership in conducting research in upscaling using existing data 
• Actively participate in group meetings and discussions
• Attend conferences and present the findings
• Contribute to supervising Bachelor and Master students 
• Collaborate with other PhD candidates and team members
• Write and defend a PhD thesis 
• Disseminate and publish the research findings in peer-reviewed journals

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

Administrative qualifications:

• Must have either obtained the master’s degree or have submitted the thesis prior to the application deadline
• A strong academic background from the previous studies and an average grade from the master's degree program, or equivalent education, equal to B or better. If the letter grades are not awarded, the candidate must have an equivalent academic basis to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. 
• Meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program 
• Have submitted all required documents including the research statement
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English  

Scientific qualifications:

• A degree in Biology, Geology and Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics, Geography, Soil Science, Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, or related fields
• Good knowledge and skills in statistics and programming (e.g. R or Python) is required
• Experience with data analysis related to terrestrial ecology, geography, soil science, or atmospheric sciences. 

Personal qualities:

Strong academic drive and motivation to develop as a scientist and obtain the PhD degree

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

• Knowledge in high latitude ecosystems is an advantage
• The candidate will be encouraged to explore his/her own ideas and research questions related to the overall goals of the PhD project. Therefore, proactive problem-solving skills will be highly valued
• Work independently and in a structured manner, and can cooperate with others in the project and the research group

Personal characteristics

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

• Work independently
• 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 

• 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 important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Exciting and stimulating academic working environment
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

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.

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

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. If learning Norwegian (level A2 corresponding to at least 15 credits) is to be completed before the end of the employment period, the employment period can be extended by 10 weeks after completed and documented the Norwegian course.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Biology 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 be in 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:

• A cover letter stating the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position
• A research statement (max. 1 page) outlining the research questions and approaches one would be interested in addressing during the PhD work
• A full CV
• Certificates, diplomas, and transcripts in English or Scandinavian language. If the master's degree is not awarded, a confirmation from the education institution or supervisor that the thesis has been submitted is required
• A copy of the master's thesis (if allowed by master supervisor) or an abstract of it. 
• Name, address and contact details (email, phone number) of three referees
• A publication list (if applicable) with description of the applicant’s role

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.

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 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 Associate Professor Hanna Lee (e-mail: hanna.lee@ntnu.no). 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR consultant Cathrine Kyung Ja Kravik (e-mail: cathrine.k.j.kravik@ntnu.no).

Application deadline: 28.10.2025

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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.