Researcher in experimental combustion dynamics

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Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0About the Job

The Thermo-Fluids Group within the Department of Energy & Process Engineering seeks a researcher in a permanent position to participate in and support activities within the FRIRPO research project Setting the Stage, which focuses on combustion dynamics in hydrogen and ammonia flames. In addition, the researcher will be tasked with helping to further developing the turbulent combustion laboratory facilities, and to contribute to teaching activities within the Thermo-Fluids Group. A researcher position within the Norwegian Higher Education system is more senior to a postdoctoral researcher, and candidates with commensurate experience are sought.

The successful candidate will collaborate with Professor Nicholas Worth to run the research project, helping students and postdoctoral researchers set-up and conduct experiments, training students in experimental methods, and maintaining masters-level laboratory activities. They will also contribute to laboratory facility and equipment scheduling and maintenance, and the application of control and safety procedures and protocols. The successful candidate will also be required to teach fundamental fluid mechanics courses that are held in Norwegian. This will involve delivering lectures, exercise sessions, and the examination.

Your immediate leader will be Nicholas Worth

Duties of the position

• Conduct fundamental research in combustion dynamics of hydrogen and ammonia flames, while supporting the FRIPRO project Setting the Stage.
• Help maintain and develop the Turbulent Combustion Laboratory facilities.
• Supervise, train, and assist PhD students and postdoctoral researchers on experimental methods.
• Teach a course in fundamental fluid mechanics.
• Contribute to laboratory health and safety activities.
• Write journal papers.

Required selection criteria

• PhD in mechanical, civil or aerospace engineering, or physics, with a background in experimental fluid mechanics.
• Must have a minimum of 2 years experience as a postdoctoral researcher.
• Significant research experience in thermoacoustic instabilities, hydrogen and ammonia combustion
• Experience with the following state-of-the-art fluid mechanics techniques, e.g., particle image velocimetry (2D, Stereo, and 3D such as Tomo-PIV and STB), hot-wire anemometry, high-speed imaging, Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence, dynamic pressure measurements. Experience writing journal papers in leading fluids journals, e.g., the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Combustion and Flame, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute.
• Proficient in MATLAB and/or Python.
• Strong written and oral English language skills.
• Strong written and oral Norwegian language skills. From the outset, the successful candidate will be expected to be able to teach an undergraduate course in fundamental fluid mechanics in Norwegian. Experience supervising undergraduate and graduate students
• You must document relevant basic competence in teaching and supervision at a university/higher education-level, as referenced in the NTNUs guidelines for academic positions. If this cannot be documented, you will be required to complete one approved NTNU Uniped module in university pedagogy within two years of commencement.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience with computer aided design (CAD).
• Strong background and or qualifications in machining and general workshop skills.
• Experience teaching/assisting teaching of fundamental fluid mechanics.

Personal characteristics

• Enthusiastic.
• Highly motivated.
• Works effectively in teams and individually.
• Able to operate in a goal-oriented manner.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability, as well as motivation, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement.

We offer

• world-class experimental laboratories
• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

As a researcher (code 1109) you are normally paid from gross NOK 620 000 - 750 000 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. As required by law, 2% of this salary will be deducted and paid into the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

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. 

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. 

About the application

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. If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result. 

The application must contain

• CV
• Proof of a PhD, e.g., PhD diploma).
• Name and contact information of three referees
• A “qualifications document” explicitly listing each of the “required” and “preferred” criteria with a brief description of how you meet each one. This document should not exceed 2 pages.

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 NOKUT, please attach this as well.

It is important that you both document and reflect on your competence. You are encouraged to use the NTNUs competence matrix as a guide for documentation of your competence. 

Joint work will also be considered. If it is difficult to identify your specific input to a joint project, you must include evidence of your contributions. 

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. Open scientific practice will be recognized.

NTNU is obliged by the evaluation criteria for research quality in accordance with The San Fransisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA and The obligations in the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment ( CoARA) on responsible assessment of research and recognition of a wider range of academic contributions to science and society. This means that we will pay particular attention to the quality and academic range demonstrated by your scientific work to date. We will also pay attention to research leadership and participation in research projects.

Your scientific work from the last five years will be given the most weight. Your application will be considered by a committee at the department. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview.

General information

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.

As an employee at NTNU, you must continually maintain and improve your professional development and be flexible regarding any organizational changes.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself 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 reservation is not accepted.

For the sake of transparency, candidates will be given expert evaluations of their own and other candidates. As an applicant you are considered part of the process and are stipulated by rules of confidentiality. 

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Nicholas Worth, email: nicholas.a.worth@ntnu.no.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR-consultant Martha Aftret Karlsvik, e-mail: hr@ept.ntnu.no 

 

Application deadline: 10.03.2026

 

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, kindergartens and overall equality, 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. The public school system offers language support to international children whose families have relocated to Trondheim and there are also two International Schools. Trondheim has low crime rates, clean air and water, and offers great opportunities for enjoying nature and culture.