Postdoctoral Fellow in Urban Mobility and Energy Sufficiency

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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.

     

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About the position

The Department of Architecture and Planning invites applications for a position as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Urban Mobility and Energy Sufficiency. The position is funded by NTNU’s strategic research area Energy - Strategic Research Area - NTNU – Focus area ‘The Transformation of Energy End Use’. The work will address the overall goal of drastically reduce and transform the energy and power demand related to urban mobility, through sufficiency in energy services and solutions. The PostDoc will work with the interplay between architecture and planning, psychology, and STS (Science and Technology Studies). Key research questions will be:

• How can spatial urban planning be developed to support energy sufficiency in mobility?
• What does a sufficiency lifestyle imply for everyday mobility practices?
• How can people’s wellbeing and mobility needs be met in alternative planning scenarios with a focus on energy sufficiency?
• What is the potential of sufficiency in urban planning to meet climate targets and stay within planetary boundaries?

We offer a 3-year postdoctoral position that allows you to develop a strong research profile within an emerging and important research field. The purpose of a postdoctoral position is to build a researcher profile that qualifies for a position as an associate professor. You will gain valuable experience for your future career. 

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

Duties of the position

• Carry out research of high quality.
• Collaborate with the supervisory team to co-author at least two publications in peer-reviewed journals and actively participate in science communication through conferences, seminars, and public outreach activities.
• Conduct independent and collaborative research focused on urban mobility with a focus on energy sufficiency and the role of urban planning.
• Collaborate with urban planners, psychologists, STS scientists, and stakeholders, e.g. from NTNU Department of Architecture and Technology, SINTEF Community, Trondheim Municipality and other municipalities, and industry partners in Norway and Europe.
• Contribute to grant writing, project reporting, and dissemination work at the department.
• Participate actively in meetings with Norwegian and European partners, as applicable.
• Mentor students in research and design projects.
• Participate in other career-enhancing activities as necessary.

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a doctoral degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Architectural Engineering, or a related field*. 
• A proven track record from research in travel behaviour and energy use, or low-emission lifestyles. 
• Experience from survey based quantitative research and the use of spatial data
• Experience in publishing interdisciplinary and applied research
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English.

* If you are in the final phase of your doctorate and can document that the thesis has been submitted or that the defense date has been confirmed, your application can be considered even if you have not defended. NOTE: Documentation of the obtained doctorate must be presented before you can take up the position.

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

If you do not already have educational competence that meets the requirements for a position as associate professor in Norway, NTNU will arrange for you to acquire such competence during the employment period. In such cases, you will also be assigned relevant teaching as part of the career-promoting work.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience from interdisciplinary work in between architecture, urban planning and social sciences.
• Experience in urban planning support systems and assessments of sustainability.
• Experience in qualitative research.
• A record of peer-reviewed publications in relevant fields.
• Experience in applying for research funding or contributing to grant proposals.
• Experience from coordinating with stakeholders or external partners.
• Experience in supervision of master theses or student research projects.
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian.

Personal characteristics

Working as a Postdoctoral fellow requires that you:

• Share a strong interest in academic research and teaching
• Work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment and with multiple co-supervisors.
• Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions.
• Demonstrate curiosity and strong motivation for the subject
• Communicate clearly and translate technical findings into accessible insights for academic and non-academic audiences.
• Act ethically and responsibly.
• Participate in international research networks or projects.

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer 

• An exciting job with a prominent social mission.
• A strong and international professional environment at the department of architecture and planning in close collaboration with co-supervisors from the department of psychology and the department of interdisciplinary studies of culture at NTNU.
• Career guidance throughout the postdoctoral program and together with you we will prepare a career plan, which containsthe skills and knowledge you will acquire.
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues. 
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU.
• Favorable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a Postdoctoral Fellow 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

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 633 400,- per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years. 

As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to 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, and that you submitt all the documents that the application must include.

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:

• Application letter (maximum 1 page and 500 words)
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's-,Master's- and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your PhD, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or confirmation that your PhD thesis has been submitted. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• A copy of the doctoral thesis. If you are close to submitting,you can attach a draft of the thesis. 
• CV based on the Norwegian Research Councils template for early career researchers (https://www.forskningsradet.no/siteassets/utlysninger/vedlegg-utlysninger/template-for-cv-early-career-scientists.docx ) including experiences/contributions to relevant projects, funding applications and collaboration with partners and stakeholders (In Project Management experiences or early track record as applicable). 
• A research plan with reference to the expected outcomes listed in Duties of the Position (maximum 3 pages and 1800 words).
• Academic works - published or unpublished(up to 5 items)
• Possible recommendation letters
• Name and contact information of three referees

 

If all or parts of your education hasbeen taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation requiredcan 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 works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

If you have had leave or another break in your career, it is important that this is stated in your application so that the selection committee can take this into account and that the amount of your research may be reduced as a result.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal qualities. Motivation, ambitions and potential for research will also be emphasized in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in 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 list of applicants, 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 have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Thomas Sick Nielsen, email: thomas.s.nielsen@ntnu.no , Professor Christian Klöckner, email:  christian.klockner@ntnu.no, or Associate professor Marius Korsnes, email: marius.korsnes@ntnu.no.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Advisor, Astrid Steine Lyngby, email: astrid.s.lyngby@ntnu.no.

If you find this position interesting, and in accordance 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: 10.07.2026

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.