Job Description

Published 22-01-2025
Deadline: 01-03-2025

PhD Candidate in Molecular Modeling

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

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

The successful candidate will contribute to the development of an open-source, user-friendly computer code that will make this advanced algorithm accessible to researchers worldwide, allowing for the simulation of time-dependent molecular properties. This tool aims to reduce simulation wall time by tenfold or more, making it a game-changer for researchers in multiple fields. The PhD candidate will apply this technology to four key interdisciplinary areas: redox chemical reactions, biomineralization, protein-ligand binding, and enzymatic catalysis.

This project offers a unique opportunity to push the boundaries of computational chemistry, biotechnology, and material science. The candidate will report to the Head of Department, with supervision provided by Prof. Titus S. van Erp.

About the project

We are looking for a skilled and ambitious PhD candidate to join the ∞RETIS project, which aims to revolutionize virtual experimentation in chemistry, physics, and biology by simulating complex molecular processes that were previously impossible due to the large timescales involved.

The project focuses on implementing the recently developed ∞RETIS algorithm into an advanced computer code to simulate and analyze the dynamics of rare molecular events, rather than just their thermodynamics. By integrating path sampling simulation techniques with a novel approach for parallelizing “non-parallelizable” algorithms, we aim to drastically reduce the computational resources required for such simulations. This groundbreaking method has already enabled simulations that previously took over a year to converge to be completed within weeks or even days, depending on the available High-Performance Computing (HPC) resources.

Computational Reaction Dynamics group: https://www.ntnu.edu/chemistry/research/theoretical/computational-reaction-dynamics#/view/about

Duties of the position

  • Develop and implement the algorithms for simulating rare molecular events in complex systems.
  • Design and write efficient computational code to integrate path sampling simulation techniques with novel parallelization methods.
  • Develop and apply machine learning algorithms to further speed up computations and improve the analysis of simulation data.
  • Apply the developed methodology to study key molecular processes such as redox reactions, biomineralization, protein-ligand binding, and enzymatic catalysis.
  • Perform high-performance computing (HPC) simulations to analyze and visualize time-dependent molecular properties.
  • Contribute to the development of open-source, user-friendly software for the broader scientific community.
  • Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers and participate in discussions and knowledge-sharing within the project.
  • Present research findings at international conferences and publish scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Participate in the Natural Sciences PhD program at NTNU and fulfill all requirements for the completion of the PhD degree.

Required selection criteria

  • You must have a relevant background in molecular modeling, theoretical chemistry or physics, or any other related discipline. 
  • Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at master's level
  • You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master's degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
  • Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented by 01.08.2025. 
  • You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program (https://www.ntnu.edu/nv/phd)
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, in English.

As a result of the new Act relating to universities and university colleges with associated regulations of 01.08.2024, NTNU has, during a transitional period (for decisions on employment in recruitment positions before 1 August 2025), chosen to use the terms of employment in the old regulations of 31 January 2006 no. 102 on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, research fellow, scientific assistant and specialist candidate

Preferred selection criteria

  • Experience with molecular simulations and advanced sampling techniques.
  • Proficiency in programming languages such as Python.
  • Familiarity with high-performance computing (HPC) environments and parallel computing frameworks.
  • A strong interest in interdisciplinary research, particularly in the areas of chemistry, physics, and biology.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively within an international research team.
  • Willingness to participate in exchange programs or collaborate with international research groups.

Personal characteristics

  • Willingness to learn and develop in a fast-paced research environment.
  • Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to apply existing knowledge creatively.
  • Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills, fostering a positive and productive working environment.
  • Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

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. We have a number of measures to promote equality. 

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 532,200 per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The period of employment is 3 years.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Chemistry (https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phkj) within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.

The position is conditional on external funding.

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.

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: 

  • CV and certificates 
  • transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not completed the master's degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted.
  • A copy of the master's thesis. If you recently have 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.
  • Name and contact information of three referees
  • Publications or other research work, if relevant.

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).

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.

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 have any questions about the position, please contact Prof. Titus van Erp, email titus.van.erp@ntnu.no. 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR consultant Marie Kristiansen, e-mail: marie.kristiansen@ntnu.no.

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

Application deadline: 01.03.2025

—————–

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. 

DIVERSE INFO

Arbeidsgiver NTNU – Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet orgnr:
Kort om arbeidsgiver

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.


Department of Chemistry  

We educate graduates for careers in environmental science, industry, the school system, research and public administration. Chemistry is also a basic discipline for medicine, biology and technology, and an important key in issues related to energy, climate, the environment, food, water and health. Research activities at the Department range from environmental chemistry to applied theoretical chemistry. The Department of Chemistry is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.  

Webside http://www.ntnu.no
Bransje Utdanning
Yrke Universitet og høyskole
Sted TRONDHEIM (Adresse: Høgskoleringen 1 Postnr: 7491)
Stillingstype Åremål Heltid Antall stillinger: 1
Sektor Offentlig
Krav Unknown
Tiltredelse Unknown
Søknadsfrist 01-03-2025


Kilde: NAV stillingsannonser
https://arbeidsplassen.nav.no/stillinger/stilling/6fba7df7-11aa-4bca-895c-0dccbc7a4bb3
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https://www.jobbnorge.no/ledige-stillinger/stilling/274181

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