About this role
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 In this position you will work in an interdisciplinary environment with strong computational mechanics, geotechnical and rock mechanics groups. It gives a possibility to conduct advanced research on the response of civil infrastructure subjected to blast and impact loading. The project combines computational mechanics, nonlinear finite element analysis and soil–structure interaction to address critical challenges in civil protection and societal resilience. 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. Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department. About the project The project investigates whether existing civil infrastructure can provide adequate protection against blast and impact threats arising from modern warfare scenarios, including missile and drone attacks. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding structural response, failure mechanisms and collapse resistance of typical building structures, underground facilities and other critical infrastructure. The research will combine advanced finite element simulations, blast loading models, propagation of pressure waves in the ground and soil–structure interaction analyses to establish methods for assessing the protective capacity of existing infrastructure and identifying effective strengthening measures. Selected existing structures will be used as case studies. A central aspect of the project is to identify how wave propagation in soil and soil–structure interaction influences the vulnerability or robustness of infrastructure. The candidate will investigate how soil stiffness, layering, and water saturation conditions modify the distribution of blast loads and affect potential failure mechanisms. This includes studying scenarios where underground structures provide shielding effects, as well as cases where wave reflection or confinement may increase local damage. In addition to numerical research, the PhD candidate will contribute to experimental investigations of geomaterials subjected to high strain rates. Laboratory testing will be used to characterize the dynamic properties of soil and rock, providing essential input for model calibration and validation. The project addresses emerging challenges related to civil preparedness and protection of critical infrastructure in a rapidly changing security environment. The project is carried out with an accompanying PhD project in computational mechanics that will focus on numerical simulation of fluid-structural interaction under blast loading. Duties of the position Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above Publish research findings in leading international journals and conferences Participate in the research group Geotechnical engineering at department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment. Required selection criteria You must have a relevant Master's degree in Structural engineering, Geotechnical 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 students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than 30.11.2026 You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies in mathematics, dynamics, wave propagation, 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's Doctoral Programme Written and oral fluency in English. Applicants with MSc degrees from institutions outside Europe are expected to document language proficiency. In extraordinary circumstances, formal documentation of language skills can be relinquished. In such cases, the candidate’s language skills will be assessed in a personal interview. 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 NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position. Preferred selection criteria It is beneficial if the candidate has a strong background in Numerical methods Elasto-plasticity Wave propagation in solids and porous media Blast, impact or shock loading Programming and scientific computing (e.g., Python, Matlab, C++ or similar) Personal characteristics To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to: Enjoy working both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary research team Work in a structured manner, set goals and make plans to achieve them Present and discuss your research with other professionals Work constructively under pressure Show curiosity and strong motivation for research Be flexible and open to adjusting the research plans when needed Demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills Emphasis will be placed o