Professor/Associate Professor in AI Safety for Critical Infrastructure

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Join the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) as a professor or associate professor specializing in AI Safety for Critical Infrastructure. This role, developed in partnership with DNV, a leader in global safety and sustainability, places you at the cutting edge of integrating responsible artificial intelligence in sectors like maritime and energy, focusing on intelligent monitoring and risk management. It is a key position influencing the future of industries crucial to global societal and economic health.

At NTNU, you will be part of a supportive and dynamic environment within the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MTP) and the Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety (RAMS) research group. Known for its dedication to excellence and innovation, RAMS/MTP is committed to significant academic and practical achievements in the industry.

As a member of the RAMS/MTP team, you will have unmatched opportunities for professional development and personal success. You will engage in extensive international collaborations, participate in major global projects, and contribute to the advancement of AI safety knowledge, playing a vital role in the global dialogue on AI in critical infrastructures.

The position emphasizes strong industrial collaborations, including partnerships with DNV and other key Norwegian and European industrial entities. These partnerships enhance the practical application of your research and its impact on industry development, highlighting the importance of effective operation within both academic and industrial spheres across Norway and Europe.

Offering an exciting career path and a rich cultural and professional experience in one of Scandinavia’s most innovative academic environments, NTNU is the ideal place for those committed to the safe integration of AI technologies in critical infrastructures and a collaborative, progressive setting. Join us in our mission to foster a safer, smarter, and more sustainable future through pioneering science and engineering. In addition, we offer a flexible start-up package for the ambitious professor/associate professor to quickly build up your research activity. 

Your immediate leader is head of department Professor Torgeir Welo.

Duties of the position

• you will strengthen the department’s research activities in AI safety and reliability, e.g., for the industries of maritime and energy. The work shall particularly support the department’s research and education initiatives on AI Safety for Critical Infrastructure
• the research activities of the department rely crucially on external projects and funding. You will work actively to acquire research grants and other external income from the Research Council of Norway, Nordic and European research and educational agencies, and other available sources. You will play a key role in developing prototype digital solutions and in generating/winning funding for the department
• you will foster relationships in both industrial and academic domains to effectively guide projects and enhance collaborative efforts. A deep understanding of the industrial landscape and established networks within the Norwegian and European sectors will significantly benefit your role. These connections will facilitate meaningful interactions and strategic project alignments, implicitly suggesting the advantage of a comprehensive grasp of local industry dynamics
• you will contribute to an excellent learning environment, in collaboration with colleagues, students, and external stakeholders. You will teach courses at all undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels and should supervise BSc, MSc, and PhD students according to your research qualifications

You will contribute to and develop research-oriented laboratory activities in the fields of reliable AI applications and safety mechanisms.

Required qualifications 

You must have the qualifications required for the position of professor in the field of AI Safety for Critical Infrastructure, as outlined in § 1-2 of the regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts

• your academic work must be within the fields of AI or RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety), or a comparable relevant field such as computer science, system engineering and safety and security assessment of complex systems
• you need a PhD in an engineering or systems engineering discipline with documented competence in AI safety and intelligent systems, critical energy infrastructure, or a closely related area. Candidates who are nearing completion of their PhD should include their expected graduation date
• you need a strong background in developing, applying, and maintaining technologies within sectors relevant to AI safety for critical infrastructure, accompanied by well-developed local industrial networks. Proficiency in maintenance technology to ensure the reliability and longevity of new and emerging technologies is crucial
• your research must be documented and of high international quality, demonstrating both breadth and depth. Your output should reflect an independent research profile and the ability to address new research questions. Active and continuous research activity is essential, with strong emphasis placed on the publication of research results in recognized TOP international journals/conferences within the relevant subject areas. The most significant emphasis is placed on academic work conducted in the past five years
• you need strong ability and experience in initiating and leading research and development work, and in obtaining external funding for research. A documented commitment to teaching, developing teaching materials, and supervising students at all levels related to your field is also critical
• excellent written and oral communication skills in English is required

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You must document relevant basic competence in teaching and supervision at a university/higher education-level, as referenced in the NTNUs guidelines for academic positions. If this cannot be documented, you will be required to complete an approved course in university pedagogy within two years of commencement. NTNU offers qualifying courses.

New employees who do not speak a Scandinavian language by appointment is required, within three years, to demonstrate skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent to level B2of the course for Norwegian for speakers of other languages at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU. 

Preferred qualifications

• strong experience in research proposals, project application and lab development and management are preferred. Experience in the development and maintenance of systems relevant to AI safety in critical infrastructure is highly desirable
• pedagogical skills and qualifications will be emphasized. The evaluation will be based on documented material related to teaching, forms of presentation for the academic works, experience in teaching, supervision of doctoral and master’s degree subjects as well as other types of pedagogical background
• excellent written and oral communication skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language will be highly valued
• the ability for interdisciplinary activities and collaborations
• robust industrial and/or academic networks
• industry experience and connections is preferable

Personal qualities

• ability to cooperate internally and externally
• strategic project leadership skills
• ability to be innovative and adaptable 

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer 

• exciting and challenging tasks in a strong international academic environment 
• a flexible start-up package for the ambitious professor/associate professor to quickly build up your research activity
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues 
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund 
• employee benefits 

Application Process

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

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Salary and conditions

As a Associate Professor / Professor (code 1011/1013) you are normally paid from gross NOK 650 000 – NOK 1 000 000 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. As required by law, 2% of this salary will be deducted and paid into the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

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.

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.

About the application

Your application and supporting documentation must be in 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.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

Your application must include:

• CV, diplomas, and certificates
• Academic works– published or unpublished – that you wish to be considered during assessment of your application (up to 10 items), with descriptions
• Details of projects for which you have managed, with information about funding, duration and size
• A teaching portfolio, in which your teaching competence is compiled and presented systematically, (See guidelines for applicants: Documentation of educational competence
• A research plan
• Names and contact information for three relevant referees
• A list of previous works, with details on where they have been published

It is important that you both document and reflect on your competence. You are encouraged to use the NTNUs competence matrix as a guide for  documentation of your competence.

Joint work will also be considered. If it is difficult to identify your specific input to a joint project, you must include evidence of your contributions.

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. Our assessment of the pedagogical skills will be based on documented pedagogical material, forms of presentation in your academic works, teaching experience, PhD, and Masters supervision, and any other relevant pedagogical background. Both quality and scope will be taken into consideration, and an open scientific practice will be recognized.

NTNU is obliged by the evaluation criteria for research quality in accordance with The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA and the obligations in the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment ( CoARA) on responsible assessment of research and recognition of a wider range of academic contributions to science and society. This means that we will pay particular attention to the quality and academic range demonstrated by your scientific work to date. We will also pay attention to research leadership and participation in research projects. Your scientific work from the last five years will be given the most weight.

Your application will be considered by an expert committee. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview, and to deliver a trial teaching session.

General information

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. 

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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 continually maintain and improve your professional development and be flexible regarding any organizational changes.

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.

For the sake of transparency, candidates will be given expert evaluationsof their own and other candidates. As an applicant you are considered part of the process and are stipulated by rules of confidentiality. 

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact professor Shen Yin, e-mail shen.yin@ntnu.no. 

If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact HR Advisor Linn-Cecilie Brattheim, e-mail linn.c.felle@ntnu.no

Application deadline:22.02.2026