PhD candidates in Green Energy Infrastructure for Coastal Shipping – Ålesund, Norway

About the positions

We have vacancies for two PhD candidates at the Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering. The positions are temporary for three years. Desired start-up date is March 2024, but can be adjustable depending on the individual candidate and the team configuration.

For a position as a PhD candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.

For both PhD candidates the main work tasks will be within our new research project REFUEL, which is funded by the research council and 9 industrial partners. The aim of this project is implementation of zero emission and low carbon solutions for coastal shipping. You will be working closely with a team of 3 other PhD candidates, 3 professors and researchers, and representatives from the industry partners. The partners cover the whole value chain from production of zero emission fuel to implementation on board a vessel. As a member of the project, you will also participate in reporting and publishing of the work at conferences and in scientific journals. Your working place will be at NTNU Ålesund. At our department, you will be part of a large international research group, counting more than 40 PhD candidates.

The REFUEL research aim is to plan a green energy infrastructure of bunkering stations for coastal shipping, and to obtain energy-efficient operation of multi-fuel systems onboard the ship.

Your immediate leader is head of the department.

We are seeking two PhD candidates with the following main working areas:

PhD candidate 1- Coastal green energy supply stations

PhD Candidate 2-  Energy efficiency in green multi-fuel systems

Duties of the position

PhD candidate 1 – Coastal green energy supply stations

The aim is to develop a system of sustainable, safe, and flexible coastal green energy supply stations using modular solutions, which allows scaling up and down in line with changes in demand, and which are mobile.

Your focus will be to investigate where to locate future energy hubs for the coastal sailing routes, and to evaluate the type and quantities of energy carriers to be accessible at the individual hubs. Statistical analysis of real data from sailing routes will be used to develop a model to identify geographical areas of high traffic load and high energy demand.

LCA analyses of energy carriers offered at the proposed hub locations will form the model basis, together with safety regulations, technical specifications, and other requirements for energy supply stations. The expected results are preliminary designs of land-based and floating energy supply stations.  Modular solutions will be sought, which allows scaling up and down in line with changes in demand, and which are mobile.

Main tasks:

• Collect and develop a library of data on sailing routes and energy demand.
• Identify framework for a sustainable green energy supply stations network.
• Model a sustainable green energy supply stations network.
• LCA analyses of energy carriers offered at the proposed locations for energy supply stations.
• Overview of safety regulations, technical specifications, and other requirements for energy supply stations.
• Develop layout of landbased and floating green energy supply stations.
• Extension of regional model of supply network to a generic model.
• Document, and publish data and findings from research activities related to the project.
• Participate in project meetings and report research results to the project partners.
• Compile your findings into a comprehensive PhD thesis.

PhD candidate 2 – Energy efficiency in green multi-fuel systems

The aim is to develop solutions for retrofitting existing coastal vessels with economically feasible green energy supply systems, without compromising the overall sustainability. This includes description of design and operation principles for green maritime fuel systems.

Your focus will be to develop a digital tool for selecting the right green energy carrier(s) for a given vessel. This will be achieved through modelling and simulation of energy consumption profiles and overall energy efficiency with various system designs. Multiple energy carriers, heat recovery, interchangeability, batteries and hybrid systems, combustion engines and fuel cells, as well as other energy consuming components onboard the vessel will be analysed. Data will be collected through a survey on user knowledge, experiences and procedures among partners and service suppliers along the value chain.

The expected result is a hybrid energy system design tool, which can be used to give recommendations on green energy systems for a given ship. Such energy systems include hybrid systems containing batteries and multi-fuel systems.

Data on energy systems will be collected from the project partners, stakeholders and suppliers of energy system components. The analyses will be based on life cycle assessments (LCA), consumption data and energy supply station information from the project, as well as available data in literature.

Main tasks:

• Collect maritime energy system data from partners and suppliers.
• Plan and carry out laboratory experiments to provide data for the area of interest.
• Develop and test a simulation model of maritime multi-fuel systems and batteries.
• Perform LCA analyses and identify sustainable solutions.
• Survey on user knowledge and procedures among partners and service suppliers along the value chain: transport, storage, bunkering, onboard storage, processing, and combustion.
• Selection of vessel type for case study.
• Digital tool for selecting the right green energy carrier(s) for a given vessel.
• Document, and publish data and findings from research activities related to the project.
• Participate in project meetings and report research results to the project partners.
• Compile your findings into a comprehensive PhD thesis.

For both PhD positions the work tasks may be adjusted, depending on the background of the individual candidate and the team configuration.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a professionally relevant background in traditional and renewable maritime energy carriers.
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at master’s level.
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master’s degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed 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 program
• Master’s students can apply, but the planned finalization of the master’s degree must be documented.
• Good written and oral English language skills.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, PhD candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

Preferred selection criteria

• Theoretical basis and practical experience within renewable maritime energy carriers
• Teaching experience
• Project management experience

Personal characteristics

• Ability to work independently as well as in teams
• Enthusiastic, with a keen interest in the wider context of own research
• Ability to take initiative and engage in cross-disciplinary teams
• Result oriented
• Attention to detail and well organized
• Good networking- and communications skills
• Inventiveness and a proactive approach

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities, and motivation for the position.

We offer

We offer

• Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• An open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• Favourable terms in the Norwegian public service fund
• Employee benefits

Salary and conditions

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 532 200 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.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Engineering within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English (ta stilling til dette)

Publications and other scientific work must be attached to the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

The application must include:

• CV and certificates
• Letter of motivation
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not completed the master’s degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master’s thesis has been submitted.
• A copy of the master’s thesis. If you recently have 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 proposal (max 2 pages)
• Name and contact information of three referees
• If you have publications or other relevant research work

Specify in your application which position you are applying for or whether you are applying for both.

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. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your efforts in the joint work, you must enclose a short description of your participation.

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

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is our strength. We want to recruit people with different competencies, educational backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to solving our social responsibilities within education and research. We will facilitate for our employees’ needs.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality. (tas bort hvis ikke aktuelt)

NTNU in Ålesund has a close collaboration with the industry, which represent a strong maritime cluster in the region.

The city of Ålesund, with its population of 50 000, will provide you with plenty of opportunities to explore a region of Norway that is famous for its beautiful scenery with high mountains and blue fjords. Ålesund itself, with its Art Nouveau architecture, is by many considered to be the most beautiful city in Norway! The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself 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 reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Ann Rigmor Nerheim, telephone +47 99 38 54 89, email: ann.r.nerheim@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Synnøve Sunde, e-mail: synnove.sunde@ntnu.no.

If you think this looks interesting and in line 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: 31.01.2024

NTNU – knowledge for a better world

NTNU – knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering

We aim to be a hub of international knowledge and innovation in maritime operations. This involves education and research on the design of ships and marine equipment as well as on the operation of vessels. Maritime operations integrate technology, human factors and business. The interfaces between these areas often spark inspiration for innovation and new solutions. The Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

Questions about the position

Ann Rigmor Nerheim
Føsteamanuensis
Ann.r.nerheim@ntnu.no

Synnøve Sunde
HR og Ph.d Kordinator
Synnove.sunde@ntnu.no