PhD Position in Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics

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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 position

A three-year PhD position in theoretical condensed matter physics is available in the research group of Research Prof. Alireza Qaiumzadeh at the Department of Physics, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About the project

The PhD project will investigate quantum many-body phenomena in novel two-dimensional magnets, unconventional magnetic systems, and topological materials. The candidate will develop and apply advanced quantum field theoretical and phenomenological frameworks to explore the rich interplay between different collective excitations, magnons, phonons, plasmons, and excitons. A related research direction involves studying the coupling of these collective excitations with Cooper pairs in superconductors and electromagnetic fields in cavity QED setups. The project aims to understand how such interactions influence quantum transport, topology, entanglement and correlations of various bosonic and fermionic modes, nonequilibrium  ultrafast dynamics, and emergent phenomena in these complex quantum materials.

This project offers the opportunity to address fundamental questions at the forefront of condensed matter physics, while translating theoretical insights into experimental platforms with high potential impact on emerging quantum technologies and the development of energy-efficient spintronic devices.

Duties of the position

• Complete the PhD program within three years, including the successful completion of four mandatory courses.
• Carry out research of excellent quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and research stays at foreign institutions

Required selection criteria

 

• You must hold a relevant Master's degree in theoretical physics. The candidate must have a strong foundation in quantum physics, advanced mathematical and analytical skills, and solid knowledge of quantum many-body theory and field-theoretical methods.
• 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. We will not consider candidates with a PhD degree for the PhD positions.
• 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.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme.
• The position requires spoken and written fluency in the English language. Such evidence might be represented by the results of standard tests such as TOEFL and IELTS. The candidate`s language skills might also be assessed in a personal interview.

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

• Strong programming skills
• Knowledge of magnetism, superconductivity, and topological order

Personal characteristics

We are looking for a candidate who is persistent, creative, curious, and a strong problem-solver, with the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a research team. Particular emphasis will be placed on personal initiative, motivation, and the ability to tackle challenging scientific problems.

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
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• 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. 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 physics 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 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:

• One page cover letter demonstrating how the candidate fulfills the requiered and preferred selection criteria, and explaining their motivation, research interests, and suitability for the project.
• One page summary of the master’s thesis project, including the results and methodology
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV 
• Names and contact information of two 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 Research Prof. Alireza Qaiumzadeh, alireza.qaiumzadeh@ntnu.no. 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Merete Thyholdt , e-mail: merete.thyholdt@ntnu.no 

Application deadline: 31.01.2026

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.