PhD Candidate in Autonomous information acquisitions robotics underwater

29 Dec 2023
Job Information

Organisation/Company

NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - NTNU

Research Field

Computer science
Environmental science
Geosciences

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Established Researcher (R3)

Country

Norway

Application Deadline

21 Jan 2024 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

About the job

For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree. The position is part of the research program “Intelligent autonomous systems for safeguarding operations and infrastructure at sea” (SAFEGUARD).

Autonomous systems enable extensive data collection, surveillance, inspection, and intervention in the ocean due to cost efficiency, and the possibility for performing continuous operations with less dependence on human operators. These attributes make autonomous systems desirable for robotic organizations performing operations to detect, map, monitor, inspect, and protect critical ocean infrastructures and the environment. Successful missions in the unstructured and harsh ocean, however, requires improved safety, intelligence, and operational capabilities through optimized observation platform systems and supervisory risk control, which is addressed in the SAFEGUARD project.

The main objective of the PhD project is to develop methods for risk-aware, adaptive, data-driven, and intelligent heterogenous robotic platform systems in different spatial and temporal scales for over-the- horizon operations. The particular focus is on autonomous marine robotic systems capable of persistent long-range missions, including both individual vehicles and robotic organizations to perform operations protecting critical infrastructure and the environment in the ocean.
In the Applied Underwater Robotics Laboratory (AUR-Lab)  we work to deliver outstanding results in both marine research and industrial projects. Our lab has a stimulating and productive research environment, where we continuously develop cutting-edge expertise in technology in an innovative environment. AUR-Lab is equipped with modern facilities and infrastructure that support your projects providing a unique opportunity. 

Your immediate leader is the Head of the Department and your supervisor.

Duties of the position

The research will focus on a framework for situation awareness and information provision for online decision making and optimization:

• Identify challenges and limitations to a relevant information model including sensing, data processing, uncertainty, and decision making
• Machine learning, considering risks to fulfil the operational constraints and mission objectives to improve the understanding of the situation and the environment
• Formulate an overall concept for situational awareness to collect and integrate field data and data from simulated scenarios for analysis and interpretation to enable informed decisions for mission evaluation, planning and execution

Required selection criteria

• You must have a professionally relevant background in Marine Cybernetics (with a Marine Technology basis), or in Engineering Cybernetics or Control Engineering
• 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
• Master's students can apply
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the doctoral program (Doctoral Programme - PhD - Faculty of Engineering Science - NTNU )
• Excellent 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 Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant 

Preferred selection criteria

• Relevance of MSc topic
• Other relevant experience
• Norwegian language skills

Personal characteristics

• Strong analytical skills
• Flexible and dependable
• Collaborative
• Innovative and open minded

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

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 Pension 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.

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

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

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 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
• 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 
• Name and contact information of three referees
• If you have publications or other relevant research work

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.

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.

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 Professor Martin Ludvigsen, telephone +47 91897272, email [email protected] . If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Marit Gjersvold, 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: 21.01.2024

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 Marine Technology

We develop methods and technology related to the blue economy: oil and gas extraction at sea, ship technology and the equipment industry, fisheries and aquaculture. We also have a strong commitment to the development of sustainable solutions for offshore renewable energy, coastal infrastructure, and marine robotics. Marine technology helps to solve major global challenges related to the environment, climate, energy, food and efficient transport. The Department of Marine Technology  is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

Deadline 21st January 2024
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Jonsvannsveien 82, 7050 Trondheim

Requirements
Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - NTNU

Country

Norway

City

Trondheim

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/unijobs/listing/361798/phd-candidate-in-au…

Contact

City

Trondheim

STATUS: EXPIRED