Professor/Associate Professor in AI Safety for Critical Infrastructure

This is NTNU

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus on professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 44,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

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Om stillingen

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.

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 ingenerating/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 (in Norwegian), 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 and Associate 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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Applicable to all:  

You must document relevant basic competence in teaching and supervision at a university/higher education-level, as referenced in the Norwegian national Regulations. 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 three of 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 
• 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 an Associate Professor / Professor (code 1011 /1013 ) you are normally paid from gross NOK 650 000 – 1 000 000 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. 

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis. 

About the application

Your application and supporting documentation must be in English. 

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

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 consider most relevant and would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 10 works), with descriptions
• details of the projects 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 teaching qualifications in applications and appointments to academic positions at NTNU)
• a research plan
• names and contact information for three relevant referees
• a list of your previous works, with details on where they have been published

You are encouraged to use the Universities Norway’s NOR-CAM toolbox 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 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 an expert committee. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview, and to deliver a trial teaching session.

General information

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources 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 the expert evaluation of their own and other candidates. As an applicant you are considered part of the process and is stipulated to rules of confidentiality.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Shen Yin, email shen.yin@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR consultant Linn-Cecilie Felle, e-mail: linn.c.felle@ntnu.no.

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation. 

Application deadline: 30.06.2025