PhD Candidate within the Field of Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship

About the position

PhD candidate within the field of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship, related to sustainable business models of repurposed and recycled LIB batteries.

The department of Industrial economics and technology management, Experts in Teamwork Academic Section, has a vacancy for a PhD candidate within the field of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship. The department is part of the Faculty of Economics and Management. 

Experts in Teamwork Academic Section is a professional environment within interdisciplinary collaboration. It has the overall professional responsibility for the implementation of the course Experts in teamwork (EiT), which is compulsory for all students at a higher degree at NTNU. The section's research covers interdisciplinary collaboration within the areas learning and teaching in higher education, team, innovation and entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Research in the section Experts in teamwork will contribute to new insights for higher education, for business and for the public sector.

The candidate will work within the HolE-LIB - Developing a Holistic Ecosystem for Sustainable Repurposing and/or Recycling of Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) in Norway and EU. (HolE-LIB), funded by NTNU Sustainability Call, 2021. A total of 5 PhDs will be working within the scope of the project across four faculties and six departments at NTNU.

From Norway’s perspective, the battery value chain can be seen as an exceptional sustainable value creation opportunity primarily based on Norway's comparative advantage with a competence-driven materials sector based on renewable power. The sustainability depends in part on the ability to reuse and recycle batteries and the compounds they contain. Research into factors which affect customer acceptance in case of repurposed batteries is so far extremely limited. On the other hand, a robust recycling process needs to be developed that can cater to different battery types, designs, chemistries, etc. for competitive disruption of the battery market. Currently, there exists no techno-economically efficient Li recycling process and further, the graphite from lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes is not recycled. Development of innovative separation processes are expected to positively impact the circular economy and enable sustainable business model (SBM) innovation.

The current project aims to develop a holistic understanding of the fate of end-of-life batteries by addressing technical, economic, and design perspectives along the battery value chain, complemented by evaluation of sustainable business model scenarios within reuse, repurposing and recycling. 

Duties of the position

The PhD student positioned at the Department of Industrial Economics and Technology management, The Experts in Teamwork Academic Section, will address how advancements in the repurposing and recycling of LIBs can facilitate SBM innovation in the electric vehicle (EV) and other sectors. Such innovations and other changes in the value chain of LIBs can lead to new business models, as well as supporting business model transformation, diversification, or acquisition. The main research focus will be on studying opportunities and changes in SBMs from interdisciplinary perspectives resulting from changing routes for repurposing and recycling in the battery value chain.
Innovation and entrepreneurship research methods will be used to gather interdisciplinary insights, including general interviews, focus group interviews, SBM experiments and prototyping to evaluate proposals for SBMs that provide possible scenarios for reuse, repurposing, recycling, and the complete battery value chain. 

The PhD candidate will be supervised by Associate Professor Elli Verhulst from the Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, The Experts in Teamwork Academic Section, with co-supervision from Prof. Casper Boks from the Department of Design.

The 100% position will be fully funded for 3 years. If relevant, the successful applicant may be given the option of a 4-year contract which in that case includes one year of department duties, which are likely to include teaching students and educational staff related to the course Experts in teamwork.

Required selection criteria

The PhD position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is that you have completed a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in innovation or entrepreneurship or another relevant field, or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale . If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you are unable to meet these criteria you may be considered only if you can document that you are particularly suitable for education leading to a PhD degree.

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. 

Required selection criteria

• A master's degree in Industrial Economics and Technology Management, or another field deemed relevant for the position
• A documented theoretical and practical understanding of the topics and entrepreneurial methods mentioned in this announcement
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken

Candidates are required to include a motivation letter (1-2 A4) in their application which addresses their motivation, suitability and ambitions for the position. 

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience with innovation and entrepreneurship research
• Affinity with design methods and tools
• Communication skills in a Scandinavian language, both written and spoken
• A relevant existing national or international professional network

Personal characteristics

We are searching for candidates who are

• Curious, investigative 
• Creative, result oriented and enthusiastic
• Able to cooperate in interdisciplinary teams, as well as work independently

We offer

• An opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary project together with some of NTNUs best scientists in this field
• An opportunity to become an expert in a topic of high importance for realising Sustainable Development Goals
• An existing international network of relevant scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs
• An open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Employee benefits

Salary and conditions

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are remunerated at gross from NOK 491 200 per annum before tax. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years with the possibility of up to 1 year extension with 25% teaching duties in agreement with the department.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Industrial Economics and Technology Management (https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phiot) 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 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.

Any publications and other scientific work must follow the application. However, do not submit your master thesis. 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. 

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.

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. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

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.

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 Elli Verhulst ([email protected] ). For questions about the recruitment process, please contact Svein Olav Antonsen ([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) .

The position requires spoken and written fluency in the English language. 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).
If you are invited for an interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. 

Application deadline: 7 January 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.

Faculty of Economics and Management

The Faculty of Economics and Management  is NTNU’s newest faculty, with academic communities in Trondheim, Ålesund and Gjøvik. Our research and programmes of study cover a wide range within economics, management and technology, focusing on interdisciplinarity and collaboration at regional, national and international levels. Our academic groups are important contributors to Norwegian industry and economic policy. The Faculty has four departments and a Faculty administration. 

Deadline 7th January 2022
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Campus Gløshaugen