PhD Candidate in Electrodialysis and CO2 reduction

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.

About the position

In mitigating CO2emissions, capturing and reusing CO2is a key path. In turn, CO2 electroreduction enables the production of new chemical compounds. Imagine a renewable energy-driven electroconversion process that not only captures and converts CO2 into chemical industry precursors, but also upgrades the products to industry-grade concentrations. Further, imagine doing this in collaboration with industry partners who are also pioneering this field, and helping show how it can be done.

If this imagination reflects your visions and career dreams, this exciting opportunity is excellent for you!

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.

The position is funded through ICAF, a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action coordinated by NORCE Research AS. The successful candidate will join a team working on the direct electrochemical conversion of captured CO2into formate and formic acid, with laboratory work feeding into an industrial pilot campaign at Heroya Industry Park in Norway.

About the project

In this project,14 knowledge development and industry partners across Europe come together to drive a carbon-neutral, environmentally friendly society into the future. The PhD project focuses on production of industrial grade formate derivatives from CO2capture solution via electrochemical methods. The PhD project is, in this way, experimental, theoretical ,and numerically oriented. By deploying electrochemical techniques under non-reversible thermodynamic considerations and alongside numerical and machine learning analysis methods, this work will advance a high-level scientific path toward a sustainable future.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education required to obtain a doctorate
• Carry out high-quality research within the framework described above
• Participate in or lead writing of academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the research group of sustainable energy systems
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Supervision of related master or bachelor thesis projects
• Other career-promoting work is sometimes added during the PhD study and compensated by an extension of the contract period according to effort (depends on interest and talent of the candidate and is not guaranteed).

Be prepared for opportunities for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme, see Section 6-1 of the PhD regulations for more information.
• You must have a Master of Science degree, or equivalent, in chemical engineering, electrochemistry, chemistry, materials science, process technology or a closely related discipline with specialization in experimental efforts on electrochemical devices (e.g., batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis, electrodialysis, and similar). 
  Your degree must include a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS) equivalent to a master’s thesis.
• Master’s students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position.
• You must have a strong, relevant academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from your master's degree studies, or equivalent education, equal to a B or better on 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 academic background, you may be considered if you can document that you are exceptionally suited for a PhD education, for example through relevant work experience and/or peer-reviewed academic works.
• You must have relevant courses covering electrochemistry at a master's level.
• Documented experimental competence in electrochemistry and general chemistry. 
• The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Masters thesis/project in experimental electrochemistry specially electrolysis will be given preference.
• Journal publications (published or draft with group leader statement attached).
• Experience in research deploying transport phenomena or thermodynamics for modelling.
• Experience in deploying machine learning in research.
• Experience with non-equilibrium thermodynamics and Onsager coupling coefficients.
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian equivalent level.
• Confidence in public speaking. 

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
• Analysedata, 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
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

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. 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 580 000,-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 programme in (at the Faculty of Engineering Science) 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 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

• 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 letter of motivation (400 words/1 page)
• Possibly publications, etc. other relevant research work
• 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 work will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contributiontojoint work, you must attacha briefdescription 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 and visions for the future society, you are welcome to apply.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Odne Burheim, email: burheim@ntnu.no. 

Application deadline: 15.10.2025

The city of Trondheim is located on the Trondheim Fjord in mid-Norway. It is a modern, Scandinavian city with a unique cultural scene. Trondheim has a growing and increasingly diverse population, currently of around 200 000, and is known as the tech capital of Norway. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools and kindergartens, is among the best of its kind in the world. Professional, subsidized wrap-around care for school children in grades 1-4 is easily available. Trondheim has two International Schools, and the public school system offers Norwegian language support to international children whose families have relocated to Trondheim. Trondheim has low crime rates, clean air and water, and offers great opportunities for enjoying nature and culture.