Professorship in marine robotics and robotic organizations

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NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus on professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 44,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.


About the job

The Department of Marine Technology has in collaboration with other departments at NTNU positioned itself over the last decade to be in a leading position in marine robotics. The activity level is increasing, and we need more capacity and expertise to meet the upcoming opportunities and challenges. Given the vast extents and the sensing challenges involved, the ocean remains substantially under sampled. Cost-effective approaches that yield better, more abundant, and more frequent observations and inspection of underwater infrastructure, are essential to scale up and address the increasing and pressing societal and scientific challenges in marine science, sustainable use of ocean resources and, in complex geopolitical situation, securing e.g. subsea energy and communication infrastructure. Marine robotics will also be vital in the push to digitize marine and ocean industries and reduce costs in addition to greenhouse gasses (GHG) through embodying systems with artificial intelligence and greater autonomy that work in teams through sound principles for robot organizations with a diversity in human-in-the-loop control. The emerging field of robotic organizations constituting of multi-agent systems will scale the capability even more. The observation pyramid (OP) with robotic platforms operating in space, air, sea surface and underwater is such an example. There are relevant couplings to perception and fusion of multiple modalities from remote sensing in space and air to in-situ observations on sea surface and under water that will be key in creating useful representation of the environment, planning actions and georeferencing with minimal external infrastructure. 


The professor position at Department of Marine Technology is supposed to establish a complementary research and associated education programs to ongoing activities, motivated by scalable, persistent characterization and monitoring of the ocean. The position is sponsored for a period by Equinor through the Academy Agreement and will thereafter be fully covered by NTNU.
The common interests will provide multiple opportunities for collaboration with colleagues at Departments of Marine Technology, Engineering Cybernetics, Biology, Chemistry and Marine Archeology. In addition, leveraging national and international collaboration is important.


The Professorship will be important in using the NTNU and SINTEF infrastructure in the Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre including the Fjordlab, OceanLab, Gunnerus and the Applied Underwater Robotics Laboratory (AUR-Lab) at Trondhjem biological station (TBS). Insight into use cases and operational experience from Equinor may be agreed upon.

The employed candidate will work within the Marine Cybernetics Group with an office at Moholt/Tyholt and access to laboratories at Trondhjem Biological Station (TBS) and Gunnerus and will report to the Head of Department.
 


Duties of the position

As a new member of the Marine Cybernetics group, you will:

  • Initiate use and further development of methods and technology for marine robotics and robotic organizations such as the Observation Pyramid (OP) using remote- and in-situ observations to identify, map and monitor biodiversity, patchiness, biomass and primary production as well as inspection of underwater infrastructure.
  • Contribute to future knowledge and educational tools.
  • Take part in interdisciplinary research and education collaborations across departments and faculties at NTNU.
  • Engage in applications for external funding from e.g., the Research Council of Norway, European research and educational agencies, and other available resources.
  • Participate in the further development of the Marine Cybernetics Group and Department of Marine Technology.
  • Teach in the above-mentioned study programs, including supervision of PhD and MSc fellows.

Required qualifications 

Professor: 

You must have the qualifications required for the position of Professor in the field of Marine Technology (Marine Robotics), as outlined in § 1-2 of the regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts 

  • Your scientific experience must be primarily in the field of marine robotics (or a comparable relevant field) 
  • Relevant fields include underwater guidance, navigation and control, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), underwater robotic perception, collaborative control of multiple robots, and environmental monitoring using autonomous platforms.
  • Having a PhD and scientific track record within marine robotics and underwater sensing.
  • Extensive research experience related to marine robotics including experience from field trials. 
  • In addition to the requirements for basic educational competence, you must also document: 
    • The development of the quality of your own teaching and supervision of students over time. 
    • Broad experience as a supervisor, preferably at a master’s/PhD level. 
    • Participation in improving the quality of education in a professional environment. 

 

Associate professor: 

You must have the qualifications required for the position of Associate Professor in the field of Marine Technology (Marine Robotics), as outlined in the regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts 

  • Your PhD, or comparable academic work, must be within the field of Marine Robotics (or a comparable relevant field) 
  • Relevant academic fields include underwater guidance, navigation and control, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), underwater robotic perception, collaborative control of multiple robots, and environmental monitoring using autonomous platforms. If you can document that the PhD thesis has been submitted, your application can be assessed even if you have not yet defended your dissertation. Documentation of the obtained doctoral degree must be presented before you can take up the position.  

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Applicable to all:  

You must document relevant basic competence in teaching and supervision at a university/higher education-level, as referenced in the Norwegian national Regulations. If this cannot be documented, you will be required to complete an approved course in university pedagogy within two years of commencement. NTNU offers qualifying courses. 

New employees who do not speak a Scandinavian language by appointment is required, within three years, to demonstrate skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent to level three of the course for Norwegian for speakers of other languages at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU.  

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Our research has civilian objectives. However, equipment restricted by export licenses and ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) is being used in the research project. Applicants that are citizens of Norway, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, EU or NATO countries are eligible. Other applicants are required to provide evidence of eligibility to use such equipment for their application to be considered/in their application


Preferred qualifications

  • Demonstrated ability to attract external funding from national and/or international funding agencies related to the research area.
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct internationally competitive research, building on the successful group within the Marine Cybernetics and other sections of the Department of Marine Technology and other depts at NTNU.
  • Ability for interdisciplinary activities and collaborations, including ability to develop or use ecological sensors on instrument carrying platforms (e.g. autonomous surface- and underwater vehicles, aerial drones, or mini-satellites).
  • Hands-on field and ocean-going experience.
  • Teaching experience from higher education.
     

Personal qualities

  • Ambitious and highly motivated to develop internationally competitive research, attract external funding, and contribute to the development of the department’s teaching plans.
  • Ability to initiate new projects.
  • Demonstrated teamwork skills with ability to work closely as part of collegial teams, and to contribute substantially to the working environment.
  • Excellent communication skills in English.

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities. 
 


We offer 


Application Process

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.


Salary and conditions

As a Professor (code 1013) you are normally paid from gross NOK 750 000 – NOK 900 000 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.

As an Associate Professor (code 1011) you are normally paid from gross NOK 650 000 – 800 000 NOK 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. 

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


About the application

Your application and supporting documentation must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

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.

Your application must include:

  • CV, diplomas, and certificates.
  • A teaching portfolio, in which your teaching competence is compiled and presented systematically,   (See guidelines for applicants: Documentation of teaching qualifications in applications and appointments to academic positions at NTNU).
  • Academic works – published or unpublished – that you wish to be considered during assessment of your application (up to 15 items).
  • A description of the scientific/artistic works you consider most relevant, which you particularly wish to be factored into the assessment.
  • A list of your previous works, with details on where they have been published.
  • A research plan.
  • Details of projects for which you have served as project manager, including information on financing, duration, and scope.
  • Names and contact information for three relevant referees.

You are encouraged to use the Universities Norway’s NOR-CAM toolbox 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. Our assessment of the pedagogical skills will be based on documented pedagogical material, forms of presentation in your academic works, teaching experience, PhD, and Masters supervision, and any other relevant pedagogical background. Both quality and scope will be taken into consideration, and an 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 an expert committee. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview, and to deliver a trial teaching session.


General information

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality. 

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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.

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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 the expert evaluation of their own and other candidates. As an applicant you are considered part of the process and is stipulated to rules of confidentiality.

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Asgeir Sørensen tel. +47 91897457, e-mail [email protected].

If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Marit Gjersvold, e-mail [email protected].

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation. 

Application deadline: 27.10.2023