PhD Candidate in Quantum Condensed Matter Theory

22nd February 2026
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English

• English

English

The Department of Physics has a vacancy for a

PhD Candidate in Quantum Condensed Matter Theory
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About the position

We are looking for a PhD candidate to work on challenges related to superconducting spintronics as part of the project “Flexible Superconducting Spintronics: Geometric control of low-dissipation, long-distance information processing (SuperFlex)”, funded by the Norwegian Research Council.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About the project

The candidate will join and become part of an internationally leading research environment in quantum condensed matter theory and experiments, embedded in the Quantum Condensed Matter section of the Department of Physics, which hosts a Center of Excellence in Quantum Spintronics. Please see Center for Quantum Spintronics (QuSpin) - NTNU for more information.

The project leader will be Dr. Sol H. Jacobsen. Recent research activities can be found at the group website: sites.google.com/view/soljacobsen . Focus areas for the group are determining geometric effects on superconducting transport, and the fundamentals of light-matter cavity coupling.

Duties of the position

The PhD-position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. 

• 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 actively in the specific and broader research groups
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Teaching, if duty work is agreed with the Department of Physics
• Other career-promoting work

The candidate will work with group members to develop theoretical frameworks for spin and charge transport in superconducting structures, and/or develop cavity-coupled systems. The candidate is expected to publish their work in international peer-reviewed journals. 

Changes to your work duties may occur after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have an MSc (or equivalent) in physics or nanotechnology or a closely related field. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must have been submitted before starting the position, and no later than July 1st, 2026. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. 
• 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 Doctoral programme at the Department of Physics . 
• The candidate must also have excellent written and verbal English communication skills. Such evidence might be represented by the results of standard tests such as TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). The candidate`s language skills might also be assessed in a personal interview.

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

• Competence in the theory of superconductivity and/or quantum information/cavity physics will be advantageous.
• Competence in numerical modelling is preferential. 

Personal characteristics

• We are seeking a candidate who is independent, takes initiative and excels in problem solving. 
• The candidate should contribute to a supportive and friendly working environment and actively participate in teamwork and collaborations.

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)  

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 position has a duration of three years, with the possibility of extending in exchange for teaching duties in agreement with the Department of Physics. Preferred start date for the position: August 2026. 

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, which in this case is secured through the NFR-funded SuperFlex project.

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 English or a Scandinavian language. 

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:

• A cover letter outlining your research goals and how your ambitions and experience complement the goals of the group 
• Your CV 
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted, or are currently in a 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.
• Possibly certificates, publications etc. or other relevant research work
• Names and contact information of two relevant referees

If all, or parts, of your education have 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 Dr. Sol Jacobsen, email: sol.jacobsen@ntnu.no . 

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

Application deadline: 22.02.2026

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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. 

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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 eight departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences .

Questions about the position

Dr. Sol Jacobsen

Researcher

sol.jacobsen@ntnu.no

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Deadline

22nd February 2026

Employer

NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Municipality

Trondheim

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Duration

Fixed Term

Place of service
Campus Gløshaugen, 7491 Trondheim

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