PhD in Project Management

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 42,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

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

We have a vacancy for a PhD candidate at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering  in Project Management at the Project and Quality Management (PKL) Research Group.

The PKL Research Group is involved in research related to various aspects of project management, including digitalization of project management, industrialized project production, shorter project execution time, performance measurement of project processes, etc. Much of the work is done in collaboration with the partner businesses at the centre Project Norway, see www.prosjektnorge.no .

Friction and conflicts between organisations often lead to cost escalations in projects. As a result, project organisations typically invest significant resources, both prior to- and after contract signing, to safeguard their own interests against potential opportunistic counterparts.

While project production costs have received significant attention among researchers worldwide, existing research on costs associated with friction- and safeguarding has received less attention. Both industry actors and researchers have identified a need for more research in this area to overcome the problem with high friction- and safeguarding costs to deliver more successful projects.

We are therefore looking for a candidate who wants to focus research on this topic. The research should lead to a model/method/tool that can be applied by project organisations in the industry. Several industry sectors, both public and private, are relevant to the doctoral work.

You are expected to be an active and integrated part of the academic environment at the department and to participate in cooperation with a number of different industries in the private and public sectors. You are expected to obtain data from delivery projects in the industry, either in Norway or elsewhere.  It is desired that you have specific ideas and thoughts of the relevant topic for the doctoral research. You must include a brief description and proposal that indicates thoughts of research questions and methodology for the PhD research.

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

You will report to Associate Professor.

• execute a PhD project within 3 years (including obtaining own data for research)
• complete training as part of the PhD degree, a minimum of 30 ECTS
• prepare scientific journal articles and conference papers under supervision
• present results from research at international scientific conferences and in dissertation

• your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, 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
• you must have excellent written and oral English language skills

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants  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  

• you demonstrate a strong motivation for the position
• you have work experience from project-oriented business
• you have an academic background/education within project management, engineering or economics, but other fields may also be relevant for the position
• you demonstrate knowledge/experience in project management theory
• it is a pluss if you are fluent in a Scandinavian language, or will quickly acquire Norwegian language skills

• highly motivated for PhD
• structured
• enthusiastic, self-driven and able to take initiatives
• collaborative, open-minded and able to work both independently and in team, with high degree of personal responsibility
• good communication skills
• curious and motivated to learn

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 491 200 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.

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

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. 

The application must include:

• CV, certificates and diplomas 
• 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 (including thoughts of research questions and research methods)
• research plan (including proposed timeline and milestones)
• motivational letter
• name and address 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.

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.

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.

In accordance with The Public 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 Associate Professor Haavard Haaskjold, telephone +47 41147731, email [email protected] . If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Linn-Cecilie Felle, 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-113/22 when applying.

Application deadline: 31.05.2022

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 Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

We educate graduates who can create new products, operate and maintain products, and manage projects. The Department has a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. We conduct wide-ranging research in fields such as technology, energy, product quality and development, and productivity. The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering  is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.