Norges Teknisk-naturvitenskapelige Universitet Ntnu

Trondheim

<h2>This is NTNU</h2><p>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.</p><p>At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.</p><p>You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/vacancies/" rel="nofollow">here.</a></p><p>   </p>. Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0<br /><h2>About the position</h2><p>The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture (KULT, <a href="http://www.ntnu.no/kult" rel="nofollow">www.ntnu.no/kult</a>) at NTNU, is announcing a 3-year PhD position within Science and Technology Studies. The position is part of the research project Regional electrification and key tensions in the Norwegian energy transition (<a href="https://prosjektbanken.forskningsradet.no/en/project/FORISS/352872?Kilde&#61;FORISS&amp;distribution&#61;Ar&amp;chart&#61;bar&amp;calcType&#61;funding&amp;Sprak&#61;no&amp;sortBy&#61;date&amp;sortOrder&#61;desc&amp;resultCount&#61;30&amp;offset&#61;660" rel="nofollow">REGEL</a>, 2025-2029), led by Tomas Moe Skjølsvold and funded by the Research Council of Norway. The project is conducted in collaboration between NTNU and Institute for energy technology (IFE).  The focus of the project is on electrification as a societal process. </p><p>KULT is an interdisciplinary unit with a staff trained in humanities and social sciences, with a vibrant community of committed scholars who engage in a combination of research and teaching across all levels. The candidate will be part of the research group on Energy, climate and environment (<a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/kult/energy-environment-climate" rel="nofollow">CLEEN</a>). </p><p>Electrification is a cornerstone of Norwegian climate strategies, with far reaching implications. In Norway, the next phase of electrification targets land-based industry, offshore petroleum production, and emerging power-intensive industries. All of this happens under increasingly constrained conditions for land, grid access, and political consensus. This raise pressing questions: What happens when infrastructures, institutions, and interests collide? How are decisions about competing demands negotiated, justified, and contested? The REGEL project offers a PhD position for candidates with the academic background to investigate such tensions, not as isolated technical challenges, but as deeply societal processes involving trade-offs, uncertainties, and different forms of knowledge. </p><p>The PhD will contribute to REGEL’s interdisciplinary work combining qualitative case studies, quantitative research, stakeholder engagement, and energy systems modelling. We are interested in applicants with a background in STS who want to explore how electrification is shaped and reshaped through institutional dynamics, public debates, and practical decision-making. This is an opportunity to help rethink how we understand and govern societal transitions both analytically and practically.</p><p>Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department. </p><br /><h2>Duties of the position</h2><ul><li>Conduct empirical data collection through qualitative methods such as interviews, participant observation and focus groups in line with the REGEL project plan (the plan can be provided on request). </li><li>Analyse such data through theories and concepts from Science and Technology Studies (STS) or sustainability transitions research.</li><li>Complete the obligatory coursework in the Ph.D.-program for Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture.</li><li>Produce a PhD thesis, preferably based on peer reviewed articles published in key international journals. </li><li>Participate in REGEL activities. </li><li>Present, communicate and disseminate work at relevant national and international venues.</li><li>Be an active participant in the day-to-day activities at the department, the Centre for Technology and Society, and the research group on the CLEEN research group. </li></ul><br /><h2>Required selection criteria</h2><p>The qualification requirement is completion of a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 ECTS) with a strong academic background in Science and Technology studies (STS). Candidates from adjacent fields can be considered if they have an interest in socio-technical research and/or if they have a track-record of studying transitions. Examples of adjacent backgrounds are political science, sociology, or human geography. The master’s thesis needs to have received a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale. In addition:</p><ul><li>Applicants should have knowledge of Social Science and Humanities studies of energy, sustainability transitions, controversies, participation, public engagement and inclusion, and/or interdisciplinarity.</li><li>The applicant should have experience with qualitative research methods. </li><li>Applicants should have excellent English skills (written and oral).</li><li>The capacity to conduct interviews in a Scandinavian language is a requirement</li></ul><p><strong>PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.</strong></p><p>The appointment is to be made in accordance with <a href="https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2024-06-28-1392/" rel="nofollow">Regulations for the Universities and Colleges Act (university and colleges regulations) 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)</a> for general criteria for the position.</p><br /><h2>Preferred selection criteria</h2><ul><li>We emphasize the ability to collaborate with others as well as the ability to conduct independent research.</li><li>We will emphasize completion of the master’s thesis on time.</li></ul><br /><h2>Personal characteristics</h2><p>Working as a PhD fellow requires that you</p><ul><li>Can work independently </li><li>Work structured, set goals and make plans to achieve them </li><li>Present and discuss your research with other professionals </li><li>Are able to engage constructively in teamwork, in this case also across disciplinary boundaries.</li><li>Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject </li><li>Are flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed</li></ul><p>Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.</p><br /><h2>We offer</h2><ul><li>An exciting job</li><li>Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment </li><li>Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues </li><li>Favourable terms in the <a href="https://www.spk.no/en/" rel="nofollow">Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund</a></li><li>e<a href="https://innsida.ntnu.no/wiki/-/wiki/Norsk/Ansattegoder&#43;og&#43;fordeler" rel="nofollow">mployee benefits</a></li></ul><br /><h2>Diversity</h2><p>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&#39;s collective skills. Our vision is <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/strategy-2018-2025" rel="nofollow">Knowledge for a better world</a> and <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/vision-values-social-mission-key-challenges-and-main-objectives#values" rel="nofollow">our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful</a>. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. </p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/genderequality" rel="nofollow">measures</a> to promote equality. (delete if not applicable)</p><br /><h2>Salary and conditions</h2><p>In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK  536 200,-  per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. </p><p>The period of employment is 3 years, depending on whether there is a need to include Norwegian courses and/or courses within educational competence. </p><p>For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phkult" rel="nofollow">The PhD programme in Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture</a> within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.</p><p>As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to adapt to them. </p><p>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.</p><p>The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the <a href="https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2017-06-16-67" rel="nofollow">State Employees Act</a>, and <a href="https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/foreign-affairs/export-control/id754301/" rel="nofollow"><strong>Export control</strong></a> (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed. </p><p> </p><br /><h2>About the application</h2><p>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. </p><p><strong>Please note:</strong> 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. </p><ul><li>Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor&#39;s and Master&#39;s degrees. If you have not yet completed your MA, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the submission</li><li>CV </li><li>A maximum 3–5-page statement and motivational letter containing a project outline. This outline should engage with key themes from the REGEL project plan and point to methodological and theoretical ideas for the PhD work</li><li>3 references</li><li>A list of publications (if any)</li></ul><p>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&#39;s and Master&#39;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 <a href="https://www.ntnu.no/stillinger/dokumentasjon-av-utenlandsk-utdanning" rel="nofollow">here</a>. If you already have a statement from <a href="https://hkdir.no/en" rel="nofollow">Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir)</a>, please attach this as well. </p><p>Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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&#39;s social mission).</p><br /><h2>General information</h2><p>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 <a href="https://lovdata.no/lov/2006-05-19-16/%C2%A725" rel="nofollow">current legislation</a>. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.</p><p>If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.</p><p>If you have any questions about the position, please contact professor and project leader Tomas Moe Skjølsvold, email: <a href="mailto:tomas.skjolsvold&#64;ntnu.no" rel="nofollow">tomas.skjolsvold&#64;ntnu.no</a></p><p>If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Adviser Elisabeth Leite, e-mail: <a href="mailto:elisabeth.leite&#64;ntnu.no" rel="nofollow">elisabeth.leite&#64;ntnu.no</a>.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Application deadline: 06.06.2025</strong></p><p>-----------------</p><p>For practical information about <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/nirs" rel="nofollow">working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. </a><br /> </p><p><a href="https://www.trondheim.kommune.no/english/" rel="nofollow"><strong>The city of Trondheim</strong></a> is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. <a href="https://workintrondheim.no/" rel="nofollow">Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway</a> 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. </p><br />

PhD candidate within STS: Electrification and key tensions in the Norwegian energy transition