PhD Candidate within Zero Emission Thermal Power Plants with Carbon Capture and Storage

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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

The Department of Energy and Process Engineering (https://www.ntnu.edu/ept) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is seeking a PhD candidate to work within process modeling and simulation of novel zero-emission oxy-fuel combustion CO2 capture power cycles. The successful candidate will be employed full-time by NTNU for a period of three or four years.

The candidate will be supervised by Professor Lars O. Nord with expertise on thermal power plants, CO2 capture, and process modeling and simulation. Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

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.

About the project

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) could play an important role to reduce the carbon footprint of the power generation and industrial sectors. One important aspect is to get zero CO2 emissions rather than designing the plant for a capture rate of around 90%, which is typical in many studies and applications. One promising solution that the PhD candidate will work on is a novel zero-emission power plant concept integrated with oxy-fuel combustion CO2 capture. The novel concept is based on a supercritical CO2 power cycle, which will be investigated thoroughly and benchmarked with a more traditional steam cycle.

Process modeling and simulation are important tools for designing and analyzing these processes. Of particular interest is the analysis of the zero-emission power cycle both at design and off-design (part load) conditions with special focus on heat transfer characteristics within sCO2 cycle heat exchangers. Depending on the skill set of the PhD candidate, process dynamics and control strategies should be investigated, envisioning the concept to be integrated with other energy systems offshore and onshore. The work involves collaboration with relevant Norwegian industry.

The tasks for the PhD candidate include the following:

• Modeling and simulation of the zero-emission power cycle in an applicable process simulator.
• Validation of the model(s) against experimental data.
• Analysis of optimal design conditions of the process.
• Parametric studies to assess the concept’s capabilities and boundaries including operation at off-design conditions.
• Use of AI-based methods for improved modelling, control, and definition of relevant performance indicators.
• Development of a control strategies of the process.
• Analysis of the dynamic behavior of the system for flexible operation under transient conditions.
• Linking the fundamental academic research with the applied research and development in the industry.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education including PhD course work until obtaining a doctorate
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the research group Heat-to-Power Laboratory(https://www.ntnu.edu/ept/heat-to-power) 
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Collaborate with the relevant national and international industry
• Participate in other career-promoting activities
• Possible teaching duties in relevant courses, in the case of four-year contract.

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have an academically relevant background within Mechanical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Process Engineering, or related field. 
• You must have a Master's degree in Engineering or equivalent. 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 1 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 of Engineering's Doctoral Programme.
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English.
• A good understanding of thermal power plants and turbomachinery.
• A good foundation in thermodynamics and heat transfer. 
• Experience with computational tools relevant for process modeling and simulation.

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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

• Good understanding of process dynamics including process control.
• Experience with programming including using machine learning or any other AI technique.
• Knowledge of CCS.
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian language equivalent level B2.

Personal characteristics

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

• Work independently
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Get involved 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 
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

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
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• 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. We have a number of measures to promote equality. 

The Department of Energy and Process Engineering (EPT) has established EPT Women in Science. The group is focused on supporting female Research Assistants, PhD Candidates, Postdoctoral Fellows and permanent academic employees within the Department. This support aims to help develop the academic careers of female employees, and is also made visible to our student body, to encourage them to consider an academic path. As part of the EPT Women in Science initiative we continue to build on our international network, inviting prominent female academics within and beyond the field of Engineering to speak at our events.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK  536 200,-  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 or 4 years. 

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Engineering 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 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. 

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 project outline containing proposals for an overall description of research questions, theoretical perspectives, and scientific methods to be used or developed (maximum 2 pages) 
• Short letter of motivation (maximum 1 page)
• Publications and other relevant research works if relevant, with a brief description of contributions
• 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.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Lars O. Nord, email lars.nord@ntnu.no. 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR-consultant Ingrid Wiggen, e-mail: ingrid.wiggen@ntnu.no.

Application deadline: 30.04.2025

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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. 

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