About the job

A PhD research fellow position in materials for a new zero emission aluminium production process is available. The PhD candidate will be part of our team at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at NTNU, and work on the ZEAL research project financed by The Research Council of Norway and Hydro.

The ZEAL project is a part of Hydro’s development path for HalZero – zero-emission electrolysis process which is an important part of Hydro's climate strategy to create a sustainable aluminum process for the future.  The HalZero process is based on aluminium chloride electrolysis with CO2 capture and recycling as an integrated part of the process. In the ZEAL project, four PhD candidates at Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Department of Chemical Engineering will work closely together on different topics related to the new process in collaboration with their supervisors, Hydro and SINTEF.

This PhD candidate will focus on the materials for the new process. The PhD candidate will learn to develop and characterize materials for harsh conditions, determine reactivity, stability, and suitability of materials for the new process. For the position as a PhD candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree. Additional information about the research group can be found here.

Duties of the position

The PhD candidate will through experimental studies and thermodynamic calculations participate in the development of reliable and long-life materials for the HalZero process together with the ZEAL team. The PhD student will plan and conduct experiments according to the project objectives with support from the supervisors and the team. The experimental work includes testing of material candidates at relevant conditions in the production process and characterisation of the materials using advanced methodology. The results of the project are expected to be published in scientific journals and at conferences as well as presented to research partners in the ZEAL project.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a professionally relevant background in materials science and engineering or inorganic chemistry, including thermodynamics and materials chemistry
• You must be familiar with materials characterisation techniques, e.g., X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program in Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Chemistry or equivalent, 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 students who expect to complete their studies by summer 2023 are encouraged to apply. Employment will then be postponed until the Master's degree is finished.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the Faculty of Natural Sciences doctoral program https://www.ntnu.edu/nv/phd
• You must be able to communicate fluently in English and have good communication skills

The appointment is to be made in accordance with  Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant  

Salary and conditions

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 501 200 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 (which can be extended to 4 years with teaching duties).

Starting date: 01.08.23

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Materials Science and Engineering within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

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The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.