About the position

One positions as doctoral fellow in renewable energy is available at the School of Economics and Business at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). The fellowship period is 3 years, with the possibility of extension for up to one year. Preferred starting date: August 15, 2025. 

The PhD scholarship is funded by a national centre for environmentally friendly energy production (FME) supported by the Research Council. The PhD candidate will be included in FME RenewHydro, which aims to develop knowledge on flexible hydropower to support the realization of a sustainable energy transition. This centre unites top researchers, PhD students, and industry partners in an 8-year research project.

At NMBU, the PhD candidate will join a strong scientific community on renewable energy. The candidate will work alongside PhD students, Master students, and researchers from the School of Economics and Business (HH) and the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) on social acceptance of renewable energy solutions. The core team includes energy and environment economists from both faculties. 

The PhD research should provide new knowledge on the environmental, climate, social, and economic impacts of renewable energy projects using surveys, including discrete choice experiments and statistical analyses. 

Hydropower projects has mixed effects, leading to potential goal conflicts. Discrete choice experiments help us understand how people value these trade-offs, contributing to design more balanced technological projects and policies that consider people’s preferences.

We use market research companies to conduct national or regional surveys with experiments. The responses are analysed statistically to quantify which consequences are valued more. Therefore, the position is ideal for those who enjoy working on renewable energy development and have an interest and skills in quantitative methods.

An application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD programme at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are fulfilled must be uploaded as an attachment.

Main tasks

The PhD student’s tasks will include:

• Actively participate in FME research centre activities and engage with fellow researchers to formulate relevant research problems.
• Develop relevant theoretical and methodological skills.
• Design, conduct and analyse choice experiments.
• Write scientific articles.
• PhD courses, equivalent to 45 ECTS.
• Present results to the FME centre and discuss their practical and policy implications.
• Contribute to the scientific environment at NMBU by collaborating with peers and participating in academic events.

The successful candidate is expected to submit a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with ambition to complete a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.

Information about the FME research centre RenewHydro can be found here:

https://www.ntnu.edu/renewhydro 

Information about being a PhD candidate in RenewHydro can be found here (Norwegian text only):

PhD-utdanning - NTNU

Competence

The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year master’s degree, with a learning outcome corresponding to the descriptions in the Norwegian Qualification Framework, second cycle. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.

Please note that the person hired will work with critical infrastructure and areas affected by controls on the export of strategic goods, services and technology. Candidates who do not meet the requirements for the necessary security clearance, access clearance and authorization as described in the National Security Act, the Export Control Act and the Act on the Implementation of International Sanctions (Sanctions Act) cannot be considered.

Required Academic qualifications

• Master's degree (120 ECTS) in economics, economics and business administration, entrepreneurship and innovation, or similar programmes relevant to the research topic. An MBA degree does not fulfil the requirements for admission.
• An average grade of B or better for the overall master’s degree and a grade of B or better on the master’s theses.
• Documented proficiency in both written and oral English.
• Ability to communicate and write in a Scandinavian language

The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:

• Knowledge of energy systems/markets
• Knowledge of relevant energy and environmental policies
• Knowledge of statistical analyses
• Skills in programming languages such as R and/or Python

You need to have:

• analytical mindset  
• strong motivation  
• creativity
• ability to work both independently and in teams 

Remuneration and further information

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD. Fellow. PhD. Fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 532 200) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.

Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.

For further information, please contact

• Professor Ståle Navrud, stale.navrud@nmbu.no, +4767231142 
• Post Doctor Anders Dugstad, anders.dugstad@nmbu.no, +4767231195

Information for PhD applicants and general information to applicants

Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

Application deadline: 22.04.2025

Your CV must be entered in JobbNorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is to be able to comply with the regulations of §15 of the Public Administration Act.

In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.

Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

• Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
• Complete CV 
• Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
• Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
• Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with NMBU PhD regulation section 5-2 (3). 
• Names and contact details for two references
• Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.

About the School of Economics and Business

The School of Economics and Business is one of seven faculties at NMBU. Our mission is to create knowledge across the fields of economics and business administration, and to develop professionals and leaders who combine an economic mindset with multidisciplinary knowledge equipped to address real-world problems with sustainability as a guiding principle. The School of Economics and Business offers bachelor and master programmes in Business Administration and in Economics, a master programme in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Bioeconomy, and a PhD program in Economics and Business. These degree programmes have approximately 700 students. The School has 55 faculty and staff members and more than 40 PhD students. For more information, see www.nmbu.no/en/faculty/hh