We have a vacancy for a PhD candidate at the Centre for Top Sports Research (SenTIF), Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science (INB) at NTNU.

For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.  

The position is linked to the Para Sports Project at SenTIF and focuses on the development of new knowledge to further the understanding of training and competition demands in prioritised para sports. This specific project will combine in-laboratory physiological and biomechanical measurements with the use of sensor technology during competition and training in the field to understand the underlying factors that form the basis for performance development in para-athletes in prioritised sports. In addition, the project will assess current training and recovery routines and their connection with performance development.

It is expected that the successful candidate will interact well with the top sports community and contribute to user-focussed dialogues that support Norwegian athletes in achieving higher training quality and optimising their competition preparations and implementation.

The employment period is four years, with 25% compulsory work related to the user-focussed dissemination of the research back to the sport.

You will report to the daily leader at SenTIF.

Duties of the position

  • Develop research questions and study design
  • Planning the research project
  • Recruitment of research participants
  • Implementation of data collection, interventions, and data analyses
  • Publication of studies in scientific journals
  • Composition of thesis
  • Complete and pass the PhD courses (30 ECTS)
  • 25% of the position comprises of compulsory work, which will be related to disseminating research to relevant users, such as coaches, athletes, and representatives from the sport.

Required selection criteria

  • You must have a professionally relevant background in exercise physiology, movement science, sport science or similar.
  • Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, 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.
  • You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty’s doctoral program 
  • The position demands good oral and written English 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  

Preferred selection criteria

  • It is desirable that applicants master either Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish both in writing and orally, or alternatively, are willing to learn this within the first 12-18 months of the candidacy.
  • The successful candidate must be strongly motivated for the doctoral work.
  • It is desirable that the successful candidate possesses a strong knowledge base of, and interest in the overall development process of Para athletes, including physical and technical development.
  • Knowledge of Para-sport through one’s own coaching and/or athlete career will be seen as a strength.
  • Relevant experience from research will count positively.
  • It is further desirable that you have:
    • Experience with basic programming.
    • Experience with collecting physiological and/or biomechanical data in a lab-based setting.
    • Experience with collecting and analysing data using sensor technology (GPS, IMU).
    • Experience with working in sports in an applied setting.

Personal characteristics

  • The successful applicant must have good relational skills and the ability to work well in team settings.
  • Personal and interpersonal qualities will be emphasised.

We offer

Salary and conditions

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 491 200 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 4 years ( with 25 % compulsory work).

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Medicine and Health Sciences (Link to website) within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

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.

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

About the application

The application must include:

  • CV, certificates, and diplomas.
  • Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not yet completed your master’s degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master’s thesis has been submitted.
  • A copy of the master’s thesis. If you recently have submitted your master’s thesis, you can attach the final draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master’s degree must be presented before taking up the position.
  • Name and address of three referees.
  • Publications or other relevant research work, if applicable.

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. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your efforts in the joint work, you must enclose a short description of your participation.

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. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is our strength. We want to recruit people with different competencies, educational backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to solving our social responsibilities within education and research. We will facilitate for our employees’ needs.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation 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.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

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.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact professor Øyvind Sandbakk, telephone +47 911 876 91, email oyvind.sandbakk@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Adviser Bente Kristin Årbogen Andersen, e-mail: bente.k.a.andersen@ntnu.no.

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas, and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI).

Application deadline: 20.08.2022

NTNU – knowledge for a better world

NTNU – knowledge for a better world
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

The Department of Neuroscience and Movement Science (INB) is an ambitious department in strong development. Great diversity in medicine and health disciplines is a hallmark of the department. We give priority to social relevance and quality in both education and research.

Several of our groups of researchers and teaching staff are at the forefront of their fields in Norway and internationally. Our ambition: “Through interdisciplinary collaboration, INB creates forward-looking education and research that lead the way in improving health and function.”
Read more about the Department here: www.ntnu.edu/inb

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