Research Scientist in Smart Windows

Updated: over 1 year ago
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 08 Dec 2022

This is NTNU

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 44,000 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 Job

The research scientist position is foreseen to carry out experimental work on material synthesis, characterization and component development within smart windows (e.g. electrochromic windows), and if considered appropriate at the time being, also on other relevant fields within the project. In addition, a PhD candidate within the same field will also be employed, who will be working together with the research scientist and other researchers and professors at our department.

The research scientist position is funded through the EU Horizon project ”An Open Innovation Ecosystem for Exploitation of Materials for Building Envelopes towards Zero Energy Buildings” (Exploit4InnoMat) and will thus also be part of a larger international research team.

The building sector is responsible for 40 % of the energy consumption and 36 % of the CO2 emissions in the EU. As near zero emission buildings (nZEB) becomes the new standard, the role of building materials and smart envelope systems is becoming more and more important. Exploit4InnoMat will make available a high-end open innovation testbed (OITB) network for building envelopes including roofs and facades, enabling the replication of prototypes in different buildings taking into consideration the trade-offs between sustainability pillars, life cycle stages as well as their impacts. End-user market needs for low-cost, flexible, on demand material-based solutions will be assessed through an extensive partnership knowledge on materials characterization and modelling, monitoring and process control, environmental and assessment, regulatory and standardization, social acceptance, and innovation management, realizing for nZEB solutions. In order to achieve this target a wide range of expertise has been brought to the OITB covering fields such as open innovation testbeds for nano enabled cement, non-cement premixes and ceramics, advanced coatings and glazing solutions loaded with aerogel, fibers, phase change materials and other nanomaterials providing multifunctional properties; pilot lines for nano dispersion, 3D printing and roboting spraying; as well as a network of four real scale living laboratories for nZEB technologies evaluation, which will facilitate a realization tool for developing close to market technological solutions. Additionally, a semi-automated tool combining building information modelling (BIM) analysis, fast track modelling and simulation will make enable a digital tool for utilizing building blocks (structural, solar thermal and BIPV) in order to create a harmonized and aesthetically pleasing urban environment.

The Exploit4InnoMat project includes national and international partners, among them SINTEF. The project is funded by EU through the Horizon program (HORIZON-CL4-2022-RESILIENCE-01). Within the project, NTNU has allocated most of its funding and hence responsibility in the field of smart windows. The research scientist is expected to collaborate with other PhD students and scientists in our team and among the project partners. The research scientist is foreseen to collaborate and work in the laboratories of NTNU and SINTEF Community and SINTEF Industry.

Your will report to the head of department.


Duties of the position
  • Carry out the necessary work tasks as anticipated in the project
  • Contribute to the experimental (synthesis and characterization) and component development tasks in the project
  • Contribute to the supervision of the PhD candidate in the project

Required selection criteria
  • You must have a professionally relevant background in several of the following fields: Physics, chemistry, materials science, nano materials science and technology, new materials development, and solar radiation and thermal physics, both experimentally and theoretically
  • You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD in physics, chemistry or materials science
  • Experience in chemical laboratory activities
  • A general background in materials science, both theoretical and experimental
  • Very good written and oral English language skills
  • The ability to plan and carry out experimental laboratory work
  • The ability to write and publish international scientific articles based upon carried out research tasks

Preferred selection criteria
  • Background within miscellaneous building physics and technology aspects, both theoretical and experimental, will be considered as an advantage
  • Knowledge and experimental experience within smart windows (e.g. electrochromic) will be considered as a strong advantage. The same is valid for other window/fenestration, glazing and coating aspects
  • Some computational and/or modelling background will be considered as positive
  • An interest in sustainability issues like e.g. life cycle analysis will be regarded as positive, however, a background in this field is not a requirement

Personal characteristics
  • Honest, reliable, and resilient
  • Motivated and enthusiastic about research work
  • Able to draw up goals and strive to reach the
  • Able to complete started tasks
  • Able to work both independently and in teams

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.


We offer
Salary and conditions

The gross salary for the position of Researcher (code 1109) is normally remunerated at gross from NOK 550 000 – 800 000 before tax per year, 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.

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.

The position is subject to external funding within the EU Horizon project ”An Open Innovation Ecosystem for Exploitation of Materials for Building Envelopes towards Zero Energy Buildings” (Exploit4InnoMat).

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


About the application

The application and supporting documentation must be in English.

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.  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 
  • Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 10 works) 
  • A description of the academic/artistic works that you regard as most relevant and that you particularly want to be taken into account in the assessment 
  • Research plan related to smart windows according to your ideas (approx. 2 pages) 
  • Details of the projects you have managed or have had a leading role in, with information about funding, duration and size 
  • Names and contact information for three relevant referees 

Joint work will also be considered. If it is difficult to identify your specific input to a joint project, you must include evidence of your contributions.  

In the assessment of the best qualified applicant, we will emphasize education, experience and personal suitability as well as your motivation for the position. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.  This means that we pay special attention to the quality and professional breadth of these works. We also consider experience from research management and participation in research projects. We place great emphasis on your scientific work from the last five years.


General information

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and 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.

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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 scientific aspects of the position, please contact professor Bjørn Petter Jelle, telephone +47-92042933. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Tone Måsøval Arntzen, e-mail: [email protected]

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: 08.12.2022

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 Civil and Environmental Engineering

We conduct research and teaching in civil and transportation engineering, technical planning, structural engineering, water and wastewater engineering and hydraulic engineering. Graduates from our programmes become employees – in both the public and private sectors – with a sustainability mindset combined with competitive knowledge and skills. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering  is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.



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