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You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.
Video:
https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0About the position
The Department of Engineering Cybernetics at NTNU is offering upto 2 fully funded PhD positions in the area of data-driven decision-making for energy communities.
Energy communities, where groups of households share renewable generation and a common battery storage system, represent a promising concept for increasing renewable integration and local energy self-sufficiency. However, achieving reliable and efficient operation in such systems requires efficient energy management strategies.
This project explores new methodological frameworks that use data-driven and learning-based techniques to enable intelligent, real-time decision-making in interconnected systems, such as in energy communities. The candidates will investigate how real-time data can support new operating models, and collaboration mechanisms to ensure efficient, reliable, and sustainable use of shared offshore energy resources.
The successful candidates will be a part of a dynamic and internationally connected research environment at the Department of Engineering Cybernetics, renowned for its leading expertise in optimization, control, and artificial intelligence for cyber-physical systems.
Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? As a PhD Candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, in and outside academia.
The PhD candidates will be supervised by Associate Professor Dinesh Krishnamoorthy (Department of Engineering Cybernetics), and co-supervised by Professor Pedro Crespo del Granado (Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management).
Duties of the position
- Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
- Carry out and publish research of excellent quality within the framework described above
- Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
- Collaborate with other researchers within the department, and across department at NTNU.
- Supervise master thesis students related to the project
Required selection criteria
- You must have a relevant Master's degree in Cybernetics or equivalent, with a strong training in engineering mathematics and optimization. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position.
- 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 maybe 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 Program https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phtk
- Strong oral and written presentation skills in English.
- Solid programming skills in Python, MATLAB, or Julia for control applications, and knowledge of standard optimization tools.
- Strong skills in mathematics, excellent capacity for mathematical formalism, and ability to grasp new concepts quickly.
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 NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.
Preferred selection criteria
- Strong interest and knowledge about energy systems and energy markets.
- Strong interest in distributed optimization, multi-agent systems and data-driven optimization.
- Basic skills and knowledge of machine learning principles.
- A good understanding of practical engineering challenges with a view towards impact.
Personal characteristics
To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to:
- Work independently and in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
- Present and discuss your research, and have an organized thinking process.
- Willingness to learn, show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject.
- Be open to exploring topics outside your comfort zone, generate new ideas, and engage in constructive, critical discussions with your supervisors to evaluate research ideas.
- Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity.
Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.
We offer
As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.
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
Salary and conditions
In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be from NOK 550 800,- per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. 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 program in Engineering Cybernetics within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral program through out 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 professional 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 and diplomas upon request.
The application must include:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Transcripts of academic records (Bachelor’s and Master’s).
- Copy of Master's thesis. If you are currently working towards/have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a working draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
- Publications and other relevant research work can be assessed if applicable.
- Names and contact information of minimum two 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 work 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.
If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Dinesh Krishnamoorthy, email: dinesh.krishnamoorthy@ntnu.no . If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Berit Dahl, email: berit.dahl@ntnu.no .
Application deadline: 19.06.2026.
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.