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 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

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

   

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About the position

We have a vacancy for a PhD position in theory of multiphase flow in porous media at PoreLab, Department of Physics, NTNU. This PhD position is financed via the European Research Council’s Advanced Grant Program. The candidate needs to fulfill the requirements of NTNU for obtaining a PhD. The appointment has a duration of 3 years.

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

The position is organized at the Department of Physics in close collaboration with the Center of Excellence PoreLab.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department. Your supervisor will be Professor Alex Hansen from PoreLab, Department of Physics, NTNU.

Information about the department of physics

The department incorporates a broad activity within physics with activities in solid state physics/material physics, soft/complex and biopolymer physics, medical physics, statistical physics, optics, atmospheric physics, university didactics and astro-particle physics. The department is also since 2017 the hosting institution of two national centers of excellence - PoreLab and QuSpin. The department is responsible for the best recruiting physics study programmes in Norway, both within applied and fundamental physics. It also provides a large set of courses within physics for other study programmes at NTNU.

For more information about the department and its activities, see: https://www.ntnu.edu/physics

Information about PoreLab

PoreLab is a Norwegian Center of Excellence under the auspices of the Research Council of Norway. It was created in 2017 and it is situated at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, and the University of Oslo.

PoreLab is an interdisciplinary center with joint efforts in theory, computer simulations and experiments, both in fundamental and in more applied directions. The center works to advance the understanding of porous media by developing theories, principles, tools and methods to replace ad hoc approaches to porous media with a fundamental understanding of porous media with relevance in biology, chemistry, geology and geophysics based on fluid mechanics, non-equilibrium thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.

Further information about PoreLab can be found here: https://porelab.no/

The position reports to Professor Alex Hansen, PoreLab, Department of Physics, NTNU, Phone: +47 924 11 965 (alex.hansen@ntnu.no).

Main duties and responsibilities

The position forms part of the ERC project AGIPORE, see https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101141323 which aims to derive effective equations describing the simultaneous flow of immiscible fluids in porous media at length scales where the porous medium appears continuous. This is accomplished by constructing a version of statistical mechanics that takes the physical processes at the pore scale as a starting point.  This leads to emergent variables at the continuum scale.  These emergent variables need to be connected to variables that are observable in the laboratory.  Of special interest is the information entropy that characterizes the flow distribution, velocity distribution and the geometry of the porous medium itself at the continuum scale.  Accompanying the information entropy is a temperature-like emergent variable. There is a connection between this variable and the pressure gradient that drives the flow, which is still unknown.  It is the aim of the PhD project to establish interpretation and relationships between emergent variables such as the one described.   

The student will be required to write academic papers and submit them to international scientific journals, and participate as well in international scientific conferences. She/he will be required to complete the mandatory courses for the PhD, write a PhD thesis using academic papers as basis and defend the PhD when completed.

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

 

• You must have a professionally relevant background in physics or equivalent education.
• Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than August 2025. 
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered 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 Programme.
• You must have excellent written and oral English language skills.
• Excellent programming skills are required.
• Knowledge in statistical physics is required.

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations for the Universities and Colleges Act (university and colleges regulations) and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• A knowledge of fluid dynamics is recommended. 

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to: 

• The successful applicant is a highly competent, motivated and ambitious student.
• We are looking for a positive and balanced personality open to new proposals.
• We are looking for candidates who can think creatively and critically, and who can work independently and consistently on the research project.
• The applicant should also enjoy interdisciplinary research.
• The applicant should take keen interest in learning and working in teams.

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

 

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• As a public employee, you have favourable benefits as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)

You will be employed as a PhD Candidate at NTNU and will have access to employee benefits and discounts. 

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. 

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. 

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK  536 200,-  per annum. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The employment period is 3 years.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in physics within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary academic and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control(legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in English. 

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates The application must include: 

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV 
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently 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.
• Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page)
• Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work
• Possibly certificates
• Names and contact information of three relevant referees

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. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well. 

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt 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 exemption is not granted.

If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.

Questions about the position can be directed to Professor Alex Hansen, PoreLab, department of Physics, NTNU, Phone: +47 924 11 965 (alex.hansen@ntnu.no)

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Magnus Gautvik , e-mail: magnus.gautvik@ntnu.no.

Application deadline: 20.06.2025

 

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech 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.