PhD Candidate in Acoustic Performance of Photovoltaic Systems in Noise Control Applications

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About the position

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (IBM) and the Building Technologies Research Group (BT) offer a PhD opportunity at the intersection of acoustics and PV systems. This position explores how to integrate PV technologies into acoustic design and investigates acoustic behaviour of different PV technologies when (A) used as roadside noise barriers and (B) integrated into building façades. The project contributes to emerging “green acoustics” approaches and opens opportunities for innovation at the intersection of noise control and renewable energy. 

As a PhD candidate, you will develop multidisciplinary expertise and connect to researchers and industry in both acoustics and solar energy. You will gain expertise in experimental acoustics, advanced numerical modelling, sustainable building technologies and performance optimization.

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.

Your immediate leader will be an Associate Professor.

About the project

In Norway, NS 8175 introduces limit values for environmental noise in outdoor living areas (such as balconies, and terraces) and in front of building façades in addition to indoor sound levels. As a result, roadside noise barriers constitute an important infrastructure for ensuring satisfactory acoustic conditions. These vertical surfaces hold potential for renewable-energy production, enabling their transformation into green infrastructure that combines noise control with energy generation while providing advantages in terms of land use efficiency and overall costs. Likewise, façade-integrated PV systems can offer acoustic benefits in terms of noise control if designed accordingly. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the noise-control performance of different PV technologies (e.g., monocrystalline, polycrystalline, amorphous types or monofacial and bifacial panels) and their mounting configurations (open or sealed joints and substructural elements) and on enhancing their acoustic performance through the integration of sound insulation and absorption approaches.

The PhD project is a parametric study that will investigate different PV technologies in relation to their acoustic performance and explore their potential as components in noise-control solutions. It will seek multi-objective optimization (sound insulation, sound absorption, and electricity generation) aiming to integrate renewable-energy technologies into sustainable acoustic design. Focusing on PV modules used as noise barriers along roads and façade elements in buildings the research will: 

(1) examine PV technologies, system details, and cell structures, including material characterisation to determine their acoustic properties; 

(2) analyse sound propagation in the air cavity behind PV panels, including cavity resonances, air flow, and thermal-radiation effects using FEM (e.g. in Comsol Multiphysics) and experimental case studies;

(3) identify design principles for a potential prototype, informed by the parametric findings of the project. The focus system (roadside barrier or façade integration) will be selected based on the demonstrated potential for acoustic improvement.

The PhD will be supervised by Assoc. Prof. Ayca Sentop Dumen (IBM), with co-supervision from Prof. Gabriele Lobaccaro (IBM), Researcher Mattia Manni (IBM) and Prof. Guillaume Dutilleux (Faculty of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Acoustics Group) ensuring scientific guidance across acoustics and solar energy. Internal dialogue will be developed with Road, Rail and Transport Group at IBM to provide with input data and environmental scenarios. Throughout the project, collaboration with national or international solar-energy companies will be sought to ensure both scientific depth and industrial relevance.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the research group Building Technologies in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering 
• Participate in national and international activities such as conferences, seminars and workshops
• Follow the activities of and potential to build network in the national and international industry

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a relevant Master's degree in acoustics, building physics, civil engineering, mechanical engineering or equivalent. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position.
• 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 
• You must demonstrate previous activities in acoustics and/or vibration, such as completed courses, thesis and/or publications.

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

• Subject knowledge in construction technologies, renewable energy systems, details, material properties and acoustic performance
• Experience with numerical modelling (FEM, CFD)
• Experience with experimental work such as acoustic measurements
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian language 

Personal characteristics

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

• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject and in general for acoustics
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Show strong analytical skills and ability to work independently
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed
• Have a positive attitude and engage constructively in research groups
• Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

Evaluate and remove/add what is relevant for the position.

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• 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

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.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality. 

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The employment period is 3 years.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the Faculty of Engineering PhD programme within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out the period of employment.

The position is conditional on external funding (remove if the position is not to be funded by external funds)

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). 

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:

• 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.
• Project outline containing proposals for an overall description of research questions, theoretical perspectives, methodological design for the project and progress plan (maximum 1500 words/4 pages) 
• Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page)
• Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work
• Possibly certificates
• Names and contact information of three 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 Associate Professor Ayca Sentop Dumen, e-mail: ayca.s.dumen@ntnu.no.  

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Oda Aune, e-mail: oda.aune@ntnu.no. 

Application deadline: 12.05.2026

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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.