PhD Research Fellowship available as part of the DREAMS (Design Re-Engineering and Modularization in Shipbuilding) project.

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Department of Marine Technology , NTNU, have a vacancy for one PhD Research Fellowship available as part of the DREAMS (Design Re-Engineering and Modularization in Shipbuilding) project.

The main objective of the DREAMS will be to improve the efficiency and quality of ship design processes by re-engineering, modularisation, and automation. More specifically, we believe that by re-engineering the design process, combined with a higher degree of automation of selected tasks, we can reduce the total resource expenditure in conceptual and basic design by at least 30%. Further, by extending the focus from predominantly technical details towards commercial and sustainability performance we can better meet customer needs and expectations. Further, by disseminating the project results into naval architecture educational training programmes, we can improve the medium- and long-term implementation and use of new design methods and technologies in the Norwegian maritime industry.

Core research questions for the PhD scholarship will be: What is a representative benchmark model of current design practices in Norwegian design firms? How can we quantify the relation between (competitiveness) value and resource expenditure for the design tasks covered by this model? How can we classify individual design activities with respect to their potential for being partly or fully automated? How can we involve the customer more deeply and effectively in the early stages of conceptual ship design? What are appropriate methods, ranging from physics-based analysis to data science and AI that can support the automation of individual tasks? How can (a selection of) these methods be implemented into a realistic industrial setting, considering the availability of data, ICT technologies and staff competencies and behaviour? How can we efficiently combine both human-centric and automated design tasks into an overall business-centric design process, taking into consideration the vessel and the complete fleet system? How can we use the findings from the project to further develop academic programmes in naval architecture?

The PhD candidate will work closely with Ulstein International and other industrial partners in the project. This implies being part of a team developing next generation ship designs and business processes that will improve the competitiveness of Norwegian ship design firms.

Applicants should preferably have a MSc in naval architecture, marine or offshore technology, but a MSc in other fields, such as industrial economy, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial mathematics or similar, may also be considered. Additional competence related to simulation model development, design methods, systems engineering, and data modelling is of interest. Experience from the maritime industry is an advantage. Fluency in spoken and written English is essential for the position, while some command of Norwegian is an advantage for the collaboration with Norwegian industry partners.

You will report to Professor Stein Ove Erikstad