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.

About the position

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, research and technology, in and outside academia.

You will be supervised by Associate Professor Hendrik Bentmann. Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

The PhD position will be located at the QuSpin center of excellence/Quantum Condensed Matter section at the Department of Physics, NTNU. The candidate will join and become part of an international research environment in quantum condensed matter theory and experiments.

The successful candidate will become part of a motivated research team in experimental condensed matter physics. Our team is conducting research on electronic and magnetic properties of novel quantum materials using world-leading experimental equipment for spin- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (spin-ARPES). 

About the project

The PhD position is part of the Research Council of Norway (RCN) - funded research project Polar momentum textures in chiral and magnetic matter. The goal of the PhD project is to investigate the spin-resolved electronic structure of materials exhibiting electronic and magnetic chirality, with a particular focus on understanding how broken symmetries and chiral ordering influence the electronic states of solids. The project will employ spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (spin-ARPES) to directly probe the momentum-dependent spin texture of quantum materials. The main part of the experiments will be conducted in our laboratory at NTNU, while complementary experiments will be performed at international synchrotron radiation facilities. Through a combination of advanced experiments and close interaction with theory, the project aims to establish new insights into the relationship between crystal structure, magnetism, and spin-polarized electronic properties in emerging functional materials.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the research group ARPES
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Potentially teaching duties in agreement with the Department
• Other career-promoting work 

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a relevant Master's degree in Physics, Material Science 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 30.09.2026.
• You must have a strong 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 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
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English

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 and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Educational background in condensed matter physics, electronic properties and magnetism
• Competence in experimental research
• Good numerical skills for analyzing large data sets

Personal characteristics

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

• Have a strong interest in condensed matter physics 
• Show curiosity and strong motivation for the subject
• Are able to work in a team and establish positive relationships with other students and staff 
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them, in collaboration with the supervisor
• Work independently

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
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)  
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

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

Diversity

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. 

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,- per annum. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The employment period is 3 years, with potential for extension for teaching duties / career promotion work in agreement with the Department.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Physics 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.

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 be in 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 form the 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:

• CV
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees 
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted, or are in the process of submitting 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.
• Certificates (if applicable)
• Publications and other research work (if applicable)
• Names and contact information of minimum two 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 Associate professor, Hendrik Bentmann, email: hendrik.bentmann@ntnu.no.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Anja Isaksen, e-mail: anja.t.isaksen@ntnu.no.

Application deadline: 12.07.2026

Interviews are planned to be held in the beginning of August. The starting date for the position is flexible during autumn 2026, preferably no later than November 2026. 

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

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

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.

Department of Physics

Our research and teaching are both experimental and theoretical, covering a wide range of disciplines. Our activities contribute to development of new medical technology and to finding solutions for the next generation’s communication technology, energy utilization and development of materials. The Department of Physics is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.