PhD Candidate in Cyber Risk Management in Maritime Operational Technology

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.

 

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About the position

Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? As a PhD research fellow with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a range of leading positions in business, administration, higher education and research. 

This PhD project will investigate cyber risk management in maritime operational systems. Depending on your academic background and research interests, the project may focus on one or more topics such as cyber risk assessment, human–machine interaction, cyber risk communication, cybersecurity training, or organizational and operational resilience.

Your immediate manager will be the Head of Discipline.

About the project

Maritime operations increasingly depend on interconnected operational technology, automation, remote access and data-driven services. While these developments create new opportunities, they also introduce cyber risks that may affect safety, security and operational continuity. Managing these risks requires an understanding of the interaction between human operators, technology and operational conditions.

The project must maintain a clear connection to maritime operational technology and operational environments. Candidates may approach the research area from a technological, human factors, organizational, risk management or maritime operational perspective, and are not expected to have prior expertise in all the areas covered by the project. The candidate is expected to collaborate with maritime stakeholders and apply the research to relevant industrial or operational cases.

The candidate will join a research environment working at the intersection of cybersecurity, maritime operations and human–technology interaction. The position offers the opportunity to develop interdisciplinary research expertise and to collaborate closely with maritime industry and public-sector stakeholders.

Duties of the position

• Complete doctoral education and obtain a doctorate
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the research group Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (https://www.ntnu.edu/iik/cisar) 
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Other career-enhancing work such as teaching and supervision, Norwegian language classes, UNIPED. 

Some changes to your work duties may occur after employment.

Required selection criteria 

• You must meet the requirements for admission to thefaculty's DoctoralProgramme. See Section 6-1 of the PhD regulations for more information.
• You must have a relevant Master's degree in cybersecurity, information security, maritime studies, marine technology, risk or safety management, human factors, engineering, or another relevant discipline, or equivalent. Your degree must include a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS) equivalent to a master’s thesis
• 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.
• Excellent presentation skills in English language equivalent to level C1-C2. 
• The person hired must be eligible for security clearance at level  CONFIDENTIAL or higher and be able to obtain such clearance within a reasonable period after employment.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Knowledge of or experience with one or more of the following areas: cybersecurity or cyber risk management; operational technology or industrial control systems; maritime systems or operations; human factors or human–machine interaction; safety, security or resilience.
• Experience with relevant qualitative, quantitative, experimental, technical or mixed research methods, and/or collaboration with industry or public-sector stakeholders.
• Oral 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 independently and in a structured way, by setting goals and making plans to achieve them
• Show curiosity and 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
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with academic, industry and public-sector partners

Emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.

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 research fellow 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 research fellow, 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 4 years for the doctoral work including 12 months of career promotion work. 

The successful candidate will be granted conditional admission to the relevant doctoral programme when employed in the PhD research fellow position. It is a prerequisite for continued employment that the requirements for full admission are met within three months, and that you continue to participate in the organized doctoral programme for the remainder of the employment period. For more information about the requirements for full admission, please see Section 6 of the PhD regulations. 

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 application and all required attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no before the deadline. The documents must be in Norwegian, another 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. If you are invited for an interview, you must present certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include: 

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees, including diploma supplement
• CV filled out in Jobbnorge
• 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 2 pages) 
• Short letter of motivation (1 page)
• Any publications or other relevant research work
• Any relevant 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 does not offer “diploma supplement”,  you must attach information about the grading scale from the education institution. 

We further recommend that you enclose a statement about your education abroad from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir). Follow the link to their web site for more information about how to obtain such a statement: Apply for recognition of foreign higher education. See also NTNU’s web site for documentation requirements for education obtained outside Norway. 

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 have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Marie Haugli-Sandvik [email protected]. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Katrine Rennan [email protected].

Application deadline: 15.10.2026.

Your work place will be Campus in Ålesund.

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

Ålesund, known for its unique Art Nouveau architecture and spectacular nature, is a gem on Norway's west coast. The city offers a vibrant cultural life, modern facilities, and a dynamic business environment. With its strategic location by the sea, Ålesund provides a perfect balance between urban living and natural experiences. Here, you will find excellent schools, top-notch healthcare services, and a wide range of recreational activities. Ålesund is an ideal place for both career and family life, with a safe and inclusive community.