PhD Candidate in Industrial High-Temperature Heat Pumps for decarbonized heat generation

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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.

About the position

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

A PhD position is available at the Department of Energy and Process Engineering (EPT) within the Refrigeration research group(part of P&P)on the topic of "Industrial High-Temperature Heat Pumps". The goal is that the candidate obtains the doctoral degree during the approved KSP project period starting in early 2027, in close collaboration with SINTEF Energi AS

The Refrigeration research group has a well-established expertise and network as regards of vapour compression systems applying natural working fluids for various applications within different industrial sectors. In close cooperation with SINTEF Energi AS, the group is involved in several national and international research projects. This PhD position will be a part of the KSP project ‘IndHTHP’. The candidate will be integrated in the research teams and benefit for the know-how of senior researchers during the PhD work. Workshops will be organized to bring experts in the field together to share and transfer their knowledge. The candidate will have access to the joint research facilities at SINTEF and NTNU in Trondheim.

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 KSP project addresses to limit global warming which requires a substantial shift toward more sustainable energy systems. Electrification of industrial heat is widely considered as a promising route to reach carbon emission targets, and industrial heat pumps provide an energy-efficient solution for this purpose by using surplus heat to generate the required thermal output with low electricity consumption. According to the IEA, industrial heat pumps could become a cornerstone technology for electrifying low-temperature heat (below 100 °C) heat and a substantial portion of medium- temperature (100–400 °C) heat.

IndHTHP aims to accelerate the adoption of industrial high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) in Norway to enable energy-efficient, low-emission heat. The projectʼs main objective is to support wider adoption of industrial HTHPs across Norwegian industry. By strengthening the knowledge base from end-user and technology-provider perspectives, IndHTHP aims to reduce barriers to implementation and establish a foundation for industrial pilot projects as spin-off initiatives.

The project addresses R&D challenges that currently limit wider deployment of HTHPs. These include matching different heat-pump technologies to diverse industrial needs, developing solutions that can deliver higher supply temperatures, larger capacities, more compact designs and flexible operation and reducing the cost and uncertainty of integration into existing industrial systems. The project will study how natural refrigerants and water-based systems can be used in large-scale HTHPs while maintaining reliability, leak-tightnes sand compliance sector-specific safety requirements.

By combining modeling, laboratory validation, industrial case studies and stakeholder collaboration, IndHTHP aims to deliver practical guidelines, identify viable pilot opportunities and lay the foundation for future industrial demonstration projects.

Key components of the PhD work include:

• Dynamic modelling and optimization of industrial high-temperature heat pump (HTHP) systems
• Development of innovative HTHP cycle concepts for higher efficiency, flexibility, and temperature lift
• Investigation of high-temperature (>160°C) and ultra-high-temperature (>250°C) heat pump technologies
• Integration of heat pumps with industrial processes
• Experimental validation and performance assessment through laboratory and field testing

Duties of the position

• Complete doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above and in particular:
• Develop and validate dynamic simulation models using Modelica and advanced component libraries
• Analyze and optimize novel heat pump cycle architectures, working fluids, and control strategies
• Evaluate techno-economic performance and industrial applicability of HTHP solutions
• Design, conduct, and analyze laboratory experiments and industrial field demonstrations
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the research group P&P
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Teaching: Supervise one to two project-and master’s thesis students every year

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme, see Section 6-1 of the PhD regulations for more information.
• You must have a relevant Master's degree in refrigeration engineering. Your degree must include a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS) equivalent to a master’s thesis
• Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position no later than September 2026.
• You must have a strong and relevant academic background from your previous studies 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 academic background, you may be considered if you can document that you are exceptionally suited for a PhD education, for example through relevant work experience and/or peer-reviewed academic works.
• You must have experience in dynamic modelling of energy systems with heat pumps in Dymola/Modelica
• You must present a strong interest for the modelling and simulation of complex multi-physical systems including heat- and mass transfer.
• You must have experience with experimental investigations and data analysis
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English to level B2
• The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Scientific publications are an advantage
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to:

• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity
• Show curiosity and a strongmotivation for the subject
• Analyze data, assess different perspectivesand draw well-founded conclusions
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

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.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 580 000,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

The employment period is 3 years.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in engineering within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.

The position is conditional on external funding from the Research Council of Norway.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

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.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English.

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.

The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Project outline containing proposals for an overall description of research questions, theoretical perspectives, methodological design for the project and progress plan (maximum 1500 words/4 pages)
• Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page)
• Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work
• Possibly certificates
• Names and contact information of three relevant referees

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. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint work will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions, and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt 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 exemption is not granted.

If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Prof. Dr.-Ing Armin Hafner at NTNU. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR-advisor Lydia Lamminen, e-mail: lydia.c.lamminen@ntnu.no.

Application deadline: 11.11.2026

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage.

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

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

Department of Energy and Process Engineering

We conduct research and teaching covering the entire energy chain, from resources to the end-user. We look at how energy is produced and used by humans and machines in a sustainable way with regard to health, climate change and the resource base. The Department of Energy and Process Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.