PhD Candidate in Intelligent Navigation and Risk Based Route Planning

Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet (NTNU); Trondheim; On-site; NOK 522,000 - 638,000; Full time

Job summary

NTNU in Trondheim is inviting applications for a PhD Candidate position within the Norwegian Maritime AI Centre. The project focuses on AI methods for navigational situational awareness, risk-based routing and wind-assisted propulsion, with use cases UC3 and UC5.

Supervision by Associate Professor Børge Rokseth and collaboration with industry and public partners are expected. The successful candidate must hold a Master’s degree in engineering cybernetics or closely related field, have strong

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in engineering cybernetics with mathematical modelling, dynamical systems and control theory.
• Competence in machine learning and ability to implement computational models.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB or C++ for research code.
• Master's degree in engineering cybernetics, robotics, control engineering or related field.
• English language skills at a level suitable for academic work.

Responsibilities

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate.
• Carry out research of good quality within the described framework.
• Publish academic papers and disseminate science to the public.

Skills

Engineering cybernetics

Mathematical modelling

Dynamical systems

Control theory

Machine learning

Python

MATLAB

C++

Education

Master's degree in engineering cybernetics or closely related discipline

Tools

Python

MATLAB

C++

Job description

About The Position

The PhD position is part of the Norwegian Maritime AI Centre, led by NTNU. The centre brings together researchers, industry and public partners to develop AI applications for the maritime sector.

The PhD project will develop AI methods for navigational situational awareness and risk-based route planning, with applications in safe navigation and wind-assisted propulsion. A key question is how maritime data can be used to assess navigational risk and inform route and speed choices, accounting for vessel capabilities and uncertainty in the available information.

The work will draw on two of the center's use cases: AI-driven S-100 electronic navigational chart products (UC3) and wind-assisted propulsion (UC5).

UC3 concerns the use of electronic navigational chart data to assess hazards along a vessel’s path. The use case will investigate how these assessments can account for the vessel’s position and motion, together with characteristics such as draught, stopping distance and maneuvering capabilities. Historical AIS tracks combined with chart data offer a basis for constructing and studying navigational situations. It is also a goal of the use case that these assessments should be explainable. That is, it should be possible to trace a warning or recommendation to the data and criteria that produced it.

In UC5, the focus is on route and speed planning for vessels with wind-assisted propulsion. Taking advantage of wind conditions can reduce fuel consumption, but the benefits depend on the vessel’s performance and the route it can safely follow. The use case will investigate both how forecasts of wind and other environmental conditions can be used in voyage planning, accounting for navigational and operational constraint, and how adaptations can be made underway, accounting for actual conditions.

The two use cases link the assessment of individual navigational situations to planning over a longer voyage. The project will examine how uncertainty in data and forecasts affects these decisions, and how plans can be revised as conditions change. Method development will build on machine learning in combination with established models of vessel behavior and navigation. The choice of methods will be developed as part of the doctoral work.

The candidate will work closely with industry and public partners in the centre.

The PhD candidate will be supervised by Associate Professor Børge Rokseth.

About The Project

DThe Norwegian Maritime AI Centre shall position the maritime sector for accelerated and successful use of AI. The demand for safe and sustainable maritime activities, as well as the shortage of crew and engineers, are key drivers for change in the maritime sector. At the same time, there is a pull for growth, increased efficiency and profitability, while managing volatility in the markets. Moreover, the sector is critically important for global supply chains and security in a tense geopolitical situation. To demonstrate and prototype maritime AI solutions, the center will address a diverse and impactful set of use cases: Logistics, shipping and business transactions; Ship design and construction; Voyage planning and optimization; Condition monitoring and maintenance; Crew training; Maritime traffic and ship surveillance; Decarbonization and energy management; Autonomous ships and remote control.

The research partners are the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), University of Oslo, Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, Norwegian Mapping Authority, MET and SINTEF Nordvest. There are about 30 user partners from the maritime sector, in addition to hundreds of members of the Maritime Forum, Blue Maritime, Ocean Autonomy, and Maritime CleanTech clusters. The center will be a hub, orchestrating the interfaces with research partners and user partners to facilitate collaboration, knowledge creation, dissemination, innovation, and sharing of knowledge. The Norwegian Maritime AI Center is funded by the Research Council of Norway and the partners for the period 2026-2030. There will be approximately 25 doctoral scholarships and some postdoc positions. More information can be found here: https://www.ntnu.edu/mai

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 Norwegian Maritime AI Centre activities
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Other career-promoting work can be discussed and agreed

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required Selection Criteria

• You must have a strong foundation in engineering cybernetics, including mathematical modelling, dynamical systems and control theory, together with competence in machine learning. This background must be documented through relevant coursework and project or thesis work.
• You must have good programming skills and experience implementing and evaluating mathematical models or computational methods in Python, MATLAB, C++ or a comparable programming language.
• You must have a Master's degree in engineering cybernetics, robotics, control engineering, applied mathematics, or another closely related discipline. Applicants with degrees in other engineering disciplines or informatics must document an equivalent background in the subjects specified above. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, including 120 credits at master's level. Master's students may apply, but the degree must be completed and documented before starting the position.
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If your previous studies were not assessed using letter grades, you must demonstrate an equally strong academic foundation. Applicants with a weaker grade background may be considered if they can document that they are particularly suitable for PhD education.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the PhD program in Engineering Cybernetics.
• You must have good written and oral English language skills. If your native language is not English or a Scandinavian language, you must document your English proficiency, for example through TOEFL.

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 maritime navigation, vessel dynamics or maritime risk assessment.
• Experience with simulation-based evaluation, uncertainty modelling or risk-based decision-making.

Personal characteristics

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

• Work in interdisciplinary teams with researchers, industry and government.
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject
• Take initiative and work independently when needed
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive and collaborative working environment

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 program 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)

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.

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 from NOK 580 000 NOK 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 the doctoral work.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD program in Engineering Cybernetics within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral program through out 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 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.

Application deadline: 01.12.2026.

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

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Børge Rokseth, email: [e-mail].

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Berit Dahl, e-mail: [e-mail].

The city of Trondheim

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 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.