Researcher in in the design of new timber products using reclaimed timber

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.

   

Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0

About the Job

At the Department of Manufacturing and Civil Engineering in Gjøvik, we have one (1) Researcher position linked to the research project CIRCULess, https://circuless-project.eu/. The duration of the position is two years. The project is funded by the Horizon Europe programme and coordinated by NTNU, dedicated to the recycling, upcycling, circularity and waste management of End-of-Life (EoL) concrete and timber-based materials and components. Through the position, you will find an exceptional portfolio of industrial and academic partners from Norway and Europe, across a variety of sectors. The successful candidate will join the Group for Sustainable Composites led by Prof. Sotirios Grammatikos and Group of Digitalization for a Sustainable Built Environment, led by Prof. Lizhen Huang. The Department of Manufacturing and Civil Engineering is in possession of state-of-the-art research facilities for manufacturing, testing & characterization, non-destructive evaluation, and recycling, as well as advanced software and digital facilities for design, modelling and analysis. NTNU in Gjøvik is an important research hub in Norway, with a strong portfolio of running (national and EU) projects and significant ongoing collaborations with the industry. NTNU in Gjøvik is a campus of NTNU, located close to Raufoss Industrial Park, Mustad Industrial Park and Sintef Raufoss Manufacturing.

The successful candidate will be under the supervision of Prof. Sotirios Grammatikos https://www.ntnu.no/ansatte/sotirios.grammatikos.

Your immediate leader is Head of Department.

Duties of the position

• Support the leadership of relevant tasks and Work Packages (WPs) of the CIRCULess project and contribute to other related projects and activities as required
• Conduct high-quality research on the topic: 
  • 1) GIS-BIM based logistics optimization tool for network design and operation. 
  • 2) Genetic Algorithm based on heuristic mutation for Resource-Constrained scheduling tool for upcycling process with a focus on the uncertainty with timber use case. 
• Lead and support the preparation of project deliverables 
• Be part of and collaborate with the project’s multidisciplinary team at NTNU
• Participation in the project research activities and cooperate with relevant project partners
• Disseminate and publish research results at relevant conferences and journals 

The position aims to develop novel design strategies for the development of new timber-based products or elements, using reclaimed timber from construction, demolition and manufacturing sources. The researcher is expected to collaborate with both other team members and project partners to reach the goals of the study. 

The position builds on work carried out during the first two years of the project, providing a substantial foundation of existing results and activities to develop further. The appointed candidate will join a well-established research team and become part of a collaborative and productive group of talented researchers.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a relevant PhD degree within the topics of: Reverse logistics network design, Reverse logistics operation optimization, and Resource-Constrained scheduling optimization 
• You must have background in sustainable construction materials with focus on recycling/upcycling solutions, with knowledge on sustainability aspects and BIM (Building Information Modelling)

Language requirements

Proficiency in English language written and communication skills is a prerequisite. The candidate is expected to be fluent in written and oral English language skills. Candidates from universities outside Scandinavia and English speaking countries are kindly requested to document English language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)).

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.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience from industry or experience from working in projects with multiple partners will be considered a merit.
• Experience with National or European funded Research and Innovation (R&I) projects will be considered a plus.
• Documented strong knowledge/experience on programming and relevant software (i.e. Anylogic).
• Knowledge of the timber industry and market.

Personal characteristics

We are looking for a positive, balanced personality who can think creatively and critically. The candidate must have excellent analytical and collaboration skills as well as an ability to work independently and in teams. Cooperation skills and communication skills are important for the position and will be highly weighted in the selection process. Emphasis will be placed on education, previous experience and personal suitability, as well as motivation, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement. The candidate much have a research mind-set, be application oriented, with the ability to set up, organize and execute research independently.

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

As a researcher (code 1109) you are normally paid from gross 630.000 NOK – 650.000 NOK 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. 

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment.

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:

1. Cover letter directed to Prof. Sotirios Grammatikos (max 1 page)

2. Curriculum vitae 

3. Certified copies of transcripts and diplomas with grades from post graduate studies (in English)

4. Research statement dedicated to the needs of this position (max. 2 pages) that should include:

A short presentation of the motivation of the applicant

How the applicant sees his/her background suitable for this position

The applicant’s view of research challenges within the area of this position

5. Names and contact details of at least 2 reference persons who we can contact

6. A copy of the PhD thesis (in PDF). If you are close to submitting, or have recently submitted your thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position

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. Open scientific practice will be recognized.

NTNU is obliged by the evaluation criteria for research quality in accordance with The San Fransisco 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 a committee at the department. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview.

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. (delete if not applicable) 

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 evaluations of 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 Sotirios Grammatikos, Research Group Leader for Sustainable Composites, Director of Laboratory of Advanced & Sustainable Engineering Materials (ASEMlab), sotirios.grammatikos@ntnu.no, phone: + 4790577561

Adviser Peter Karlsaune, peter.karlsaune@ntnu.no.

If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact HR Adviser Kristine Rognlid Hagaseth, kristine.r.hagaseth@ntnu.no

Application deadline: 09.09.2026

 

The city of Gjøvik has a population of 30 000 and is a town known for its rich music and cultural life. The beautiful nature surrounding the city is ideal for an active outdoor life! The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world.