The postdoctoral fellowship position is a temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions.
We have a vacancy for a post-doc candidate at 100%. The position report to Prof. Sebastien Gros, and will be part of his research group. The post-doc will be integrated in the Department of Engineering Cybernetic at NTNU and will be encouraged to interact with the other PhD students, postdoc and researcher there. Collaborations with other departments will also be sought.
The post-doc will perform research on Safe Reinforcement Learning and Risk-based control, whereby control policies are improved using available data, while respecting given safety constraints, possibly probabilistically. The focus will be in the management of big data in that context. The post-doc will perform mostly theoretical research and tests in simulations. The post-doc will be working in an exciting and growing environment, and acquire an expertise on a several research areas of high relevance. Two PhD positions will be under the direct supervision of the post-doc.
Duties of the position
• Perform excellent and independent research on the topic attached to the position
• Publish in top-ranking journals and conferences
• Interact with the research group where this position will be hosted
Required selection criteria
- You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD
- You must have a professionally relevant background in Model Predictive Control or Reinforcement Learning
- Strong expertise on Model Predictive Control, theory and practice
- Strong expertise in Reinforcement Learning and Dynamic Programing
- Strong expertise on probability theory and sampling techniques
- Strong expertise on optimal control methods
The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant
Preferred selection criteria
• MATLAB or Python programming
• Numerical optimal control tools (e.g. casaDi, ipopt)
• Excellent written and oral English, academic writing
Personal characteristics
• self-driven and independent
• rigorous and reliable
• team worker
• capability to supervise younger researchers
We offer
- exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
- an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
- favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- employee benefits
Salary and conditions
As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 553 500 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
The period of employment is 2 years.
The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.
It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.
About the application
The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.
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.
If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.
The application must include:
- CV, certificates and diplomas
- transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s-, master’s- and PhD degrees.
- Academic works – published or unpublished – that you would like to be considered in the assessment
- Research plan
- Name and address of three 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. 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.
General information
Working at NTNU
A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background.
The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation 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.
As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.
Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants.
If you have any questions about the position, please contact Sebastien Gros, email: sebastien.gros@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).
If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. Please refer to the application number 2021/54084 when applying.
Application deadline: 15.12.2021.
NTNU
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 Engineering Cybernetics (ITK)
Engineering cybernetics is the study of automatic control and monitoring of dynamic systems. We develop the technologies of tomorrow through close cooperation with industry and academia, both in Norway and internationally. The Department contributes to the digitalization, automation and robotization of society. The Department of Engineering Cybernetics is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering.