Postdoctoral Fellow in the topic: R744 System for electric vehicles

Updated: almost 2 years ago
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 24 Jun 2022

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At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 42,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here .


About the position 

The postdoctoral fellowship position is a temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions.  

A Postdoctoral Fellow position is available within the Refrigeration research group on the topic of "R744 system for electric vehicles ". The appointment has a duration of 2 years.

The Refrigeration research group has well-established expertise and network regarding vapor compression systems applying natural working fluids for various applications within different industrial sectors. In close cooperation with SINTEF, the group is involved in several national and international research projects.

The background for the research work is an R&D cooperation of NTNU with an international privately owned company, interested to develop and build thermal systems for electric cars based on applying the natural working fluid carbon dioxide (CO2), R744. Within this cooperation, the refrigeration team at NTNU is supporting the company and the automotive sector in the transition towards more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient technologies to achieve the goals of the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol, without any compromises regarding hidden environmental impacts of non-natural working fluids.

During the postdoc period, both theoretical and experimental investigations of components (compressors, ejectors, heat exchangers, etc.) and alternative system configurations will be performed in close cooperation with the company. Some laboratory infrastructure at NTNU will be dedicated to this work. The reversible R744 system to be developed and tested will help to validate initial simulation tools. These dynamic simulation tools will also be applied to identify smart control strategies to be implemented and optimized in the first demo versions.

You will report to Professor Armin Hafner.


Duties of the position

The duties and the research work during the period as a Postdoctoral Fellow are to conduct theoretical system design and control investigations as well as experimental campaigns in a laboratory- or demo car environment. Organize and actively participate in internal workshops and prepare some scientific publications from the results obtained in close cooperation with the partner company and the supervising team at NTNU.


Required selection criteria
  • A postdoctoral research fellowship is a qualification position in which the main objective is a qualification for work in academic positions. You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree related to refrigeration systems or a corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree is required.
  • You must have a professionally relevant background in following areas:
    • refrigeration system developments
    • dynamic system simulations (e.g. Modelica/Dymola)
    • laboratory work related to refrigeration systems/ heat pumping systems
  • Excellent English skills, spoken and written are required. Applicants from non-English speaking countries outside Europe must document English skills by an approved test. Approved tests are TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE).

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant   


Preferred selection criteria
  • Expertise in developing refrigeration and heat pumping systems
  • Experience in dynamic system simulation and development of control strategies
  • Expertise and experience in laboratory work or fieldwork
  • Published some journal articles in the field of refrigeration

If for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.


Personal characteristics
  • Enthusiastic and motivated
  • Able to work in a structured and goal-oriented manner
  • Able to work efficiently both independently and in a team
  • Able to work in a multi-cultural environment

We offer 
Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 574 700 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 2 years.  

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.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.  

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result. 

The application must include: 

  • CV, certificates and diplomas 
  • Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's-, master's- and PhD degrees.  
  • Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment. 
  • Research plan 
  • Name and address of three 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. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, 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. 

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 

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background.  

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation 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.  

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. 

Under the freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants. 

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Armin Hafner, telephone +47 92857730, email: [email protected] . If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR consultant Renate Fjellheim, e-mail: [email protected] .

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI) .  

If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. Please refer to the application number IV-145/22 when applying.  

Application deadline: 24.06.2022 

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 Energy and Process Engineering

We conduct research and teaching covering the entire energy chain, from resources to the end-user. We look at how energy is produced and used by humans and machines in a sustainable way with regard to health, climate change and the resource base. The Department of Energy and Process Engineering  is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.



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