This is a 3-year PhD position with the possibility of an additional year with working duties at the Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management – Section Managerial Economics, Finance and Operation Research. The position is resident at NTNUs campus in Trondheim.
It is an educational position, which will provide promising research talents the opportunity for professional development towards a PhD-degree. The position is connected to the PhD program at the Faculty of Economics and Management and the faculty will be your employer.
Project description
The deep ocean floor contains vast deposits of minerals that are necessary in renewable energy technologies. These minerals are expected to be in high demand due to the de-carbonization of the global economy and the transition to a net-zero economy. But while the “blue minerals” may hold the key to a greener future, mining the deep seas raises many questions and dilemmas. Can the minerals be mined without causing massive and irreparable harm to the unique ecology of the deep oceans? Who will be allowed to exploit these minerals, and on what conditions? How can conflicts over rich deposits be avoided? What rules and incentives are needed to attract responsible investors that can pay for the development of the necessary technology? Is it worthwhile to destroy unique and largely unknown habitats in the deep seas in order to address the climate crisis?
The primary objective of the TripleDeep project is to investigate whether Deep Sea Mining can provide a new source of critically important minerals in a sustainable manner. To do so we must address significant knowledge gaps about the political, economic, technological and ecological dimensions of deep-sea mining, and particularly how they interact with each other. The TripleDeep project group consist of an inter-disciplinary team, bringing together historians, marine biologists, economists and engineers.
The PhD position in the economics of Deep Sea Mining will analyze how to enable necessary investments in radically new technology and infrastructure for Deep Sea Mining, given the high levels of regulatory uncertainty, and the substantial risk of stranded assets inherent in selection of new technology paths. We will study the role of government policies in supporting the development of new technologies needed for DSM to be socially and ecologically acceptable.
Duties of the position
The TripleDeep project aims to achieve integrated interdisciplinary cooperation of high quality and according to international standards. As a PhD Candidate you will be part of this research project consisting of 4 PhD Candidates and 4 regular academic staff. Each PhD Candidate will have a co-supervisor from another discipline within the project.
Therefore, the candidate is expected to
- Identify, categorize and quantify the major risk factors associated with investment in an emerging deep sea mining industry
- Model technology adoption and other investment decision problems under uncertainty
- Analyze the role of government policies in setting minimum thresholds and supporting the development of new technologies that are needed for DSM to be socially and ecologically acceptable
- Collaborate with the other PhD candidates within the TripleDeep Project
- Participate in regular project workshops
- Contribute to joint project publications
Required selection criteria
- You must have a professionally relevant background (MSc degree or equivalent) in mathematical economics or quantitative finance or equivalent education
- 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 PhD programme in the Faculty of Economics and Management, Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management (https://www.ntnu.no/iot).
- Proven excellent written and oral English communication skills
In addition, the following qualifications will contribute positively to the evaluation of the applicant:
- High motivation for fundamental scientific research
- Enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research and keen interest in learning and working in teams
- Experience within the area of investment decision making under uncertainty /real options.
- Background or experience in more than one of the project disciplines (history, economics, engineering, biology (e.g. at the interface between economics and geology)
The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and 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
- Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and dedicated
- Creative, with a strong ability to work solution oriented
- Motivated to solve environmental problems and advance sustainability
- Ambitious and goal-oriented
- Team player
- Excellent communication skills
In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement.
Personal characteristics
- Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and dedicated
- Motivated to solve environmental problems and advance sustainability
- Ambitious and goal-oriented
- Team player
- Excellent communication skills
About the application
Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.
The application must include:
- CV, certificates and diplomas
- transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not completed the 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 a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master’s degree must be presented before taking up the position.
- A motivation letter (1-2 pages), describing the relevance of your disciplinary background, your interest in the project, and how you would approach the given topic
- Name and address of three referees
- If you have publications or other relevant research work
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.
Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief 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.
If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Verena Hagspiel, telephone 7359 3152, email verena.hagspiel@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Hilde Selli Egelie, e-mail: hilde.s.egelie@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: 07.01.2022
For further information, please click here.