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.

Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0

About the position

We have two vacancies for PhD fellowships at the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Through a PhD fellowship, you will pursue a doctoral education leading to a PhD degree.

The Department of Mathematical Sciences at NTNU is Norway’s largest university environment within mathematical sciences with 75 permanent staff members and more than 55 doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows.

The Department conducts research at an international high level within the disciplines of algebra, analysis, didactics of mathematics, differential equations, geometry/topology, numerical analysis, optimization, and statistics. Part of the research is also carried out in close cooperation with other fields of science and technology at NTNU, as well as in cooperation with industry and external research institutions.

The Department of Mathematical Sciences wants to support excellent and highly motivated candidates within any of the Department’s main research disciplines. For further information about the different research disciplines see https://www.ntnu.edu/imf/research.

Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open 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.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

Duties of the position

Research at an advanced level leading to a doctoral degree.
Possibility for teaching and other career enhancing duties.

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

You must have a relevant Master's degree in mathematical sciences. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian study program with 300 credits, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level.
MSc students in their final year are also invited to apply. Employment will then be postponed until the Master’s degree and Master’s thesis are finished.
You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and meet the faculty’s admission requirements.
Good written and oral English language skills are 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 NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions 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

Preference will be given to candidates who have a strong potential to strengthen the current research areas, or can provide a bridge between the different research activities in the department.
Familiarity with Norwegian or another Scandinavian language due to the need for teaching assistance in several of the introductory mathematics and statistics courses.
Familiarity with computer programming, e.g., Python, Julia, R, etc.

Personal characteristics

Motivation for conducting research at an advanced level.
Ability to work independently and in a team.
Good communication skills.
Motivation for teaching duties and other career enhancing work.

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

An exciting job with an important mission in society.
Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment.
Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues.
Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)

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.

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 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 with a possibility for prolongation for up to one year for career enhancing work. For career enhancing work it is an advantage if you are familiar with Norwegian or another Scandinavian language and/or computer programming, e.g., Python, Julia, R, etc.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in mathematical sciences within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme 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 Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or 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:

A tentative project plan written together with a potential supervisor at the Department (maximum 400 words/1 pages, excluding references).
A brief statement from the potential supervisor that they are willing to supervise the proposed project.
Short letter of motivation (maximum 400 words/1 page).
CV including information about education background and work experience.
Master thesis, or a summary of the planned thesis work.
Any relevant publications. 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.
Certified copies of relevant transcripts and diplomas.
Name and contact information of three references.
Documentation of fluency in the English language.

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.

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 Marte Andresen, telephone (+47) 73 59 17 40, email: marte.andresen@ntnu.no.

Application deadline: 08.04.2026.

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.

2 PhD Candidates in Mathematical Sciences