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Video:
https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0About the position
We invite applications for a postdoctoral fellow research position in steam turbines for ships. The work will be embedded in the SFI - SAINT project Sustainable, Applied and Industrialized Nuclear Technology, which supports the launch of 2-3 nuclear powered demonstration ships in the early 2030s. Within the SAINT project, you will work in Work Package 3 – From heat to propulsion.
The shipping industry accounts for roughly 3% of global CO₂ emissions, and with international pressure to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors, nuclear propulsion is emerging as a serious candidate for deep-sea and high-utilization vessels where battery or hydrogen solutions face fundamental range and energy density constraints.
Steam turbines are already in use in commercial ships today, based on fossil fuels. This research project will investigate how to integrate steam turbines, thermal and electrical energy storages, and a nuclear reactor in an energy efficient and operational reliable energy system for various ship types. As a Post Doc (PD), you will work closely with other members of the project, both industry partners, PhD candidates and other researchers in the project on a daily basis. You will also be a part of the PD/PhD community at our institute, counting around 40 candidates at present, who work on other projects but on topics related to yours.
Your work will be to investigate the present applications of steam turbines in shipping, identify critical criteria for integration and operation, and develop a model for simulation of the energy system. This includes normal operations, ramping, transit vs. port stay, and maintenance requirements. The aim of the work is to use this tool to size the reactor (output heat), steam turbine, energy storages, and other components of the propulsion system for three specified use cases: a tanker, an offshore vessel, and a floating nuclear power plant.
Are you ready to take your research career to the next level? We offer an exciting 3-year postdoctoral position that gives you the opportunity to develop a strong profile as researcher. You will also gain valuable experience that might be relevant for your further career.
The purpose of a postdoctoral position is to build up a researcher profile that qualifies for a position as associate professor. The position may also offer additional skills that are relevant to the postdoctoral fellow's future career.
Apply for this position to become part of our research environment and take the next step in your career with us.
Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.
About the project
Naval vessels and polar icebreakers have operated on nuclear power for decades. Nuclear propulsion is emerging as a serious candidate for decarbonization of deep-sea and high-utilization vessels in Norway and internationally, offering greater energy independence, higher sustained speeds, and extended range compared to conventional fuel-based propulsion. International bodies are actively establishing the frameworks that will govern the civil use of nuclear propulsion and the foundational engineering knowledge is being established right now.
SAINT - Sustainable, Applied and Industrialized Nuclear Technology - is a research project investigating the use of nuclear propulsion for commercial and specialist maritime vessels and aims at launching 2-3 demonstration ships in the early 2030s. SAINT addresses the technical, safety, and operational challenges that must be resolved before such systems can be responsibly deployed. PhD and Post Doc candidates will be among the people shaping this emergent field. In the intersection of nuclear and maritime engineering qualified engineers and researchers are scarce globally. Candidates who complete a PhD within the SAINT project will be well positioned for careers in nuclear safety, maritime regulation, advanced vessel design, and the emerging commercial nuclear sector.
The project is hosted at the Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering (IHB) at NTNU in Ålesund, a campus with deep roots in maritime engineering and ship design. Around 70 PhD students are at NTNU in Ålesund, roughly 40 of which are in IHB working on ship design, naval control systems and in shipping management. Within the project we are aiming to recruit up to ten PhD students and one or two Post Docs to work in parallel across the core engineering challenges of maritime nuclear propulsion, creating an unusually dense and collaborative internal research environment in which you will collaborate with researchers working across nuclear engineering, naval architecture, electrical power systems, and maritime operations.
The project is carried out in close collaboration with thirty industry partners spanning shipbuilders, reactor vendors, turbine manufacturers, control system developers, classification societies, and maritime operators. A dedicated test center for non-nuclear testing of reactor and turbine systems is under construction, giving SAINT researchers hands-on access to hardware validation at a scale rarely available in academic maritime research.
Duties of the position
- Carry out research of outstanding quality
- Academic publications and popular science dissemination
- Participate in the research group of SFI SAINT
- Apply for research funding and write applications and report on progress to funding sources
- Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
- Teaching
- Mentoring students, helping them with their research projects, and advising on methodology and academic writing
Required selection criteria
- You must have completed a doctoral degree in engineering or other relevant areas
- If you are in the final phase of your doctorate and can document that the thesis has been submitted or that the defense date has been confirmed, your application can be considered even if you have not defended. NOTE: Documentation of the obtained doctorate must be presented before you can take up the position.
- Good oral and written presentation skills in English equivalent level B2/C1
PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.
If you do not already have educational competence that meets the requirements for a position as associate professor in Norway, NTNU will arrange for you to acquire such competence during the employment period. In such cases, you will also be assigned relevant teaching as part of the career-promoting work.
The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and for general criteria for the position.
Preferred selection criteria
- Background in physics, control engineering, electrical engineering, nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering or a closely related field
- Project management experience
- Publishing experience
- Teaching experience
- Good written and oral Norwegian or Scandinavian language skills
Personal characteristics
Working as a Postdoctoral fellow requires that you:
- Work independently
- Work structured, set goals and make plans to achieve them
- Present and discuss your research with other professionals
- Engage and contribute constructively with feedback
- Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity
- Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject
- Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions
- Are flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed
- Have good collaboration skills
Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.
We offer
- An exciting job with an important social mission
- Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
- Career guidance throughout the postdoctoral program and together with you we will prepare a career plan, which contains the skills and knowledge you will acquire
- Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
- Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
- Favorable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)
As a Postdoctoral Fellow 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
As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 633 400,- per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
The period of employment is 3 years
As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to 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 be in 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.
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:
- Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's-,Master's- and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your PhD, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or confirmation that your PhD thesis has been submitted. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
- CV
- A copy of the doctoral thesis. If you are close to submitting, you can attach a draft of the thesis.
- Research plan
- Academic works - published or unpublished (up to 3 items)
- Possible recommendation letters
- Name and contact information of three referees
PLEASE NOTE: 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). Please note that the person hired will work with critical infrastructure and areas affected by controls on the export of strategic goods, services and technology.
Candidates who do not meet the requirements for the necessary security clearance, access clearance and authorization as described in the National Security Act, and the Act on the Implementation of International Sanctions (Sanctions Act) cannot be considered (e.g., candidates from, among others, Russia, Iran, North Korea, China). Relevant countries are listed as examples and as such the list is not exhaustive (as a result of any changes in the world situation, other countries may be added at short notice).
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. Description of the documentation required can 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 works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.
If you have had leave or another break in your career, it is important that this is stated in your application so that the selection committee can take this into account and that the amount of your research may be reduced as a result.
In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal qualities. Motivation, ambitions and potential for research will also be emphasized in the assessment of the candidates.
NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in 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 list of applicants, 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 have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Ann Rigmor Nerheim, phone: +47 99 38 54 89, email: ann.r.nerheim@ntnu.no
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact PhD Coordinator Lara Bromann, email: lara.bromann@ntnu.no
If you find this position interesting, and in accordance with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.
Application deadline: 20.08.2026
For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage.
Ålesund, known for its unique Art Nouveau architecture and spectacular nature, is a gem on Norway's west coast. The city offers a vibrant cultural life, modern facilities, and a dynamic business environment. With its strategic location by the sea, Ålesund provides a perfect balance between urban living and natural experiences. Here, you will find excellent schools, top-notch healthcare services, and a wide range of recreational activities. Ålesund is an ideal place for both career and family life, with a safe and inclusive community.