PhD Candidate in Value Delivery Analysis in Megaprojects

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at NTNU has a vacancy for a PhD candidate position focusing on Value Delivery Analysis in Megaprojects. The research is associated with the research program Bedre megaprosjekter (Better megaprojects). The research group collaborate closely with the centre Project Norway: a comprehensive research network in project management.

In recent years, the construction industry has increasingly emphasized delivering optimal value by balancing design, construction, and operational costs with environmental impact, aesthetics, and functionality. Making informed decisions throughout a project’s lifecycle is critical—but gaps remain, especially in the early, front-end stages.

Identified Gaps:

Current practices in megaproject planning and execution often suffer from several shortcomings:

• Lack of Quantified Value Drivers: There is no comprehensive framework for identifying and quantifying the key factors that impact both the immediate and long-term performance of a building, and how these are valued by stakeholders (value drivers).
• Insufficient Early-Stage Analysis: Decisions made during the early design phases rarely benefit from detailed, data-driven evaluations that consider the full range of trade-offs, such as cost versus environmental performance or aesthetics versus functionality.
• Fragmented Digital Approaches: Existing digital tools tend to address specific aspects of project evaluation but lack integration, making it difficult to perform holistic assessments that automatically generate, evaluate, and optimize design alternatives.
• Manual and Time-Consuming Processes: Traditional methods for assessing building value are labor-intensive, relying on expert judgment rather than automated, objective simulations and calculations.
• Inadequate Use of Advanced Technologies: There is a significant opportunity to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced data analytics to support rapid, automated decision-making—a need that is currently unmet in the industry.

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 Line Manager will be a professor.

The primary goal of this doctoral project is to develop a comprehensive knowledge base and methodological framework that will underpin the future creation of automated digital tools for building design. These tools will be capable of automatically generating, evaluating, and optimizing designs for maximum value. To achieve this, the candidate will:

• Identify and quantify the key value drivers that inform design decisions
• Determine what information is required to optimize building designs with respect to these drivers
• Establish which assessments, simulations, or calculations are needed—and how to perform them effectively
• Define the models and data necessary to support these processes

This work builds on previous research at NTNU, including contributions by Drevland (2019), and aims to develop the knowledge needed to bridge theoretical insights with practical applications. Ultimately, the research will enable decision-makers to anticipate and enhance value delivery in complex construction projects before a building is constructed.

• 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 Byggeprosess (Project management)
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Active collaboration with partners in Bedre megaprosjekter

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

• You must have a strong academically relevant background within project management and Master’s degree in project management 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’s students can apply, but the master’s degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position
• 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
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

If you cannot document skills in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish at level A2 upon employment, you must complete Norwegian courses corresponding to at least 15 credits before the end of the employment period. NTNU will facilitate this.

As a result of the new Act relating to universities and university colleges with associated regulations of 01.08.2024, NTNU has, during a transitional period (for decisions on employment in recruitment positions before 1 August 2025), chosen to use the terms of employment in the old regulations of 31 January 2006 no. 102 on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, research fellow, scientific assistant and specialist candidate

• Industry Experience: Practical experience in project-oriented or megaproject environments
• Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with the challenges and opportunities in achieving optimal value in the construction industry
• Interdisciplinary Insight: Ability to integrate technical, financial, and environmental considerations
• IT and AI Proficiency: Demonstrated experience with digital tools, data analytics, and artificial intelligence methods that support automated assessments and simulations
• Relevant Knowledge: Solid understanding of engineering principles, project management, construction economics, and value delivery concepts
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language

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

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

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• training during working hours and company sports at NTNU
• As a public employee, you have favourable benefits as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)

You will be employed as a PhD Candidate at NTNU and will have access to employee benefits and discounts.

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.

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK  536 200,-  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 civil engineering within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.

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 academic 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 withthe principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control(legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technologyand 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.

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:

• 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 works 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).

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.

Please note that the person hired will work with critical infrastructure and areas affected by controls on the export of strategic goods, services and technology. Candidates who do not meet the requirements for the necessary security clearance, access clearance and authorization as described in the National Security Act, the Export Control Act and the Act on the Implementation of International Sanctions (Sanctions Act) cannot be considered (e.g. candidates from, among others, Russia, Iran, North Korea, China.)

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 Ole Jonny Klakegg (Professor), by phone +4791733461 or e-mail, ole.jonny.klakegg@ntnu.no.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Oda Aune (HR Consultant), e-mail: oda.aune@ntnu.no.

Application deadline: 10.04.2025