PhD position - SFI Celect System Engineering

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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

Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? As a PhD Candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, in and outside academia.

The Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, division of Economy and Management (IØT-G) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has one vacancy for PhD candidate within change management and transdisciplinary collaboration, funded through the Centre for Research-based Innovation, SFI-CELECT (Research Centre for Effective Engineering and Learning in Complex Systems).

The position is 3-year doctoral research fellowships starting in 2026/2027. The PhD candidates will be embedded in the research activities of SFI-CELECT and will work closely with NTNU, University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), University of Agder (UiA), Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and leading industrial partners in the product manufacturing, defence and aerospace, and maritime sectors. 

Work location for the PhD position posted herein is NTNU – Department of Industrial Economy and Technology Management, Gjøvik, Norway. 

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

 

About the project

SFI-CELECT is a new Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI), starting 2026, funded by the Research Council of Norway and industrial partners and led by the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) in close collaboration with NTNU and UiA, and a broad consortium of leading companies across industrial sectors. Through research on new methodologies for effective engineering and learning in complex systems, we aim to accelerate innovation and value creation in industry by developing better methods and smarter tools to do more with less—and faster. SFI-CELECT runs from 2026 to 2033 and is Norway’s most ambitious long-term research initiatives within innovation in complex systems.

Education and competence building are central pillars of CELECT. The center will educate more than 30 PhD and postdoctoral researchers and over 120 MSc students, strengthening Norway’s international position in new product innovation. 

 

PhD position: on AI integration, organizational dialogue and transdisciplinary leadership/collaboration in digitally supported NPD processes / complex innovation systems

The PhD will research how the integration of AI-based digital systems in new product development (NPD) processes influences organizational dialogue, participation and authority structures in complex innovation systems.

The possibilities for AI-enabled analyses, recommendations and instant decision support in NPD have increased dramatically in recent years. As digital tools become embedded in transdisciplinary collaboration and product realization processes, decision-making increasingly relies on AI-supported knowledge processes. While this development may enhance efficiency and coordination, it also reshapes leadership practices, responsibility structures and participation in innovation systems.

In response, this PhD will investigate how organizations can integrate AI-based digital systems in ways that support transdisciplinary leadership, adaptive change management and participatory collaboration in complex product development contexts. Using industry-as-a-laboratory within SFI-CELECT, the project will study AI-mediated interaction in practice.

Duties of the position

The PhD candidate will work on challenging research problems related to change management and transdisciplinary collaboration in industry partners of the research center SFI CELECT. In addition, 

• Participate in other research projects and writing applications for new research projects.
• You will be encouraged to have a research stay with one of the collaborating universities outside Norway during the research period. 

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a relevant Master's degree in Management and Economics, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field of the actual PhD position. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level.
• 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
• Good written and oral English skills
• You must meet the requirements to obtain NATO security clearance for access to the facilities of the partner companies
• The hiring of each PhD candidate must be approved by the board of SFI-CELECT

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

• Knowledge in using digital tools
• Competence in the Nordic collaborative model and workplace innovation 
• Knowledge and skills in executing case and qualitative research studies
• General industrial work experience
• Experience from design/new product development/value chain/manufacturing as practitioner.
• International work experience
• Scandinavian language skills
• Experience with Industry 4.0 technology and implementation 

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to: 

• Work independently
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback
• Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity 
• Show curiosity and strong motivation for the subject
• Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions 
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed
• Combine theory and practice using industry-as-laboratory approaches.

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• CELECT facilities, industrial network, a joint PhD environment and access to PhD school Inrescos
• Excellent research infrastructure (Experiments and modelling)
• Industry-as-laboratory possibilities
• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

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,-. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The employment period is 3 years.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Industrial Economics and Technology Management (PhD in Industrial Economics and Technology Management (PHIOT) - NTNU) within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period. 

The position is conditional on external funding.

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 Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or 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:

• A short and directed cover letter (in English or Norwegian) identifying (400 words/1 page in total):
  • Your motivation for a PhD study
  • Your understanding and thoughts of topics of the position
  • Why you are suited for the position.
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV 
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work
• Possibly certificates
• 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 Professor Halvor Holtskog, telephone +47 97784320, email Halvor.holtskog@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact head of department Anne-Grethe Syversen, e-mail: anne.syversen@ntnu.no

Application deadline: 26.04.2026

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 
 

Gjøvik, a charming town by the shores of Lake Mjøsa, is known for its beautiful nature and rich cultural offerings. The town boasts a vibrant community with excellent schools, modern healthcare services, and a variety of recreational activities. With its strategic location, just a short drive from Oslo, Gjøvik combines the best of urban life and natural experiences. Here, you'll find a dynamic business environment and exciting career opportunities in a setting that values work-life balance.