PhD Candidate in Mitigating ASR by Balancing Alkalis

Ntnu; Trondheim; Hybrid; NOK 522,000 - 638,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Open environment

International collaboration

Professional development

Job summary

NTNU seeks a PhD Candidate in the Department of Structural Engineering to investigate alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in concrete. You will balance alkalis, perform pore-solution analyses, and develop alkali-binding isotherms alongside SCMs, with collaborations at SINTEF (Trondheim) and TUM (Munich).

The position combines experimental work and thermodynamic modelling, with supervision from Klaartje De Weerdt and co-supervisors, and offers a 3-year doctoral track with potential for a fourth year

Qualifications

• Master's degree in civil or materials engineering with a major independent project (min 30 ECTS).
• Excellent written and oral English required.
• Good oral and written Norwegian or another Scandinavian language.
• Proven research skills or industry experience.
• Experience with laboratory work (e.g., solution analysis, BET, laser diffraction).

Responsibilities

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate.
• Carry out high‑quality research on ASR and concrete durability.
• Publish academic papers and disseminate knowledge.
• Collaborate with the Concrete group and international partners.
• Participate in conferences and research stays at foreign institutions.
• Complete required lab training and perform laboratory work.

Skills

English proficiency

Norwegian language ability

Lab work experience

Academic writing

Presentation skills

Research experience

Education

Master's degree in civil engineering or materials engineering

Job description

The Department of Structural Engineering has a vacancy for a

PhD Candidate in Mitigating ASR by Balancing Alkalis

NTNU is a broad-based university with atechnical-scientific profile and a focusin 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.

About the position

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.

We have a vacancy for a PhD-candidate at the Department of Structural Engineering which has about 120 employees, half of them PhD Students and about 17 Postdocs and researchers.

The current position will be affiliated with the Concrete group which is a team of scientists dedicated to the study of all aspects of concrete. The Concrete group conducts research on concrete from material to structural level based on theoretical, numerical and experimental investigations. The Concrete group is involved in several national and international research projects, it has a close collaboration with the industry, and it has extended laboratory facilities with a rich history.

The candidate is expected to conduct research within the field of concrete durability, more specifically within the field of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in concrete. The PhD project will explore how alkali release from aggregates influences ASR in concrete and how alkali binding in cement paste containing supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) can moderate this effect. Building on the RILEM AAR-8 test, the study investigates alkali release from a range of aggregates, how calcium availability affects this release, and what fraction of the released alkalis actually contributes to ASR expansion. The work includes pore-solution analyses to quantify alkali contributions from reactive and non-reactive aggregates, as well as concrete expansion tests to determine the alkali thresholds that trigger damage. A key focus is the role of SCMs in buffering alkali release and potentially suppressing its impact. Parallel experiments will quantify alkali binding in cement pastes with various SCMs and replacement levels, by the development of alkali-binding isotherms combined with in-depth studies using amongst others SEM-EDS. Together, these investigations aim to clarify how aggregate release and alkali binding in cement paste interact to control ASR risk in modern composite cements. The current PhD position involves both experimental research and thermodynamic modelling. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with SINTEF (Trondheim, Norway) and TUM (Münich, Germany).

The project receives additional funding from Heidelberg Materials and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens Vegvesen).

The candidate’s main supervisor will be Professor Klaartje De Weerdt, while Associate professors Anja Estensen Klausen, Adjunct professors Jan Lindgård and Barbara Lothenbach, and Associate professor Alisa Machner (TUM) will act as co-supervisors.

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 research group concrete
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Complete the necessary course/training to work in the laboratory
• Laboratory work
• Teaching may be considered
• Other career promoting work

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

• You must have a relevant Master's degree in civil engineering or material engineering specialized on concrete design and/or concrete materials,or equivalent.
• Your degree must include a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS) equivalent to a master's thesis
• You must have an excellent written and oral English language skills
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language
• Proven skills/track record in the relevant areas of research, or work experience from the industry
• Proven experience with laboratory work, e.g., solution analysis, BET, and laser diffraction analysis (psd).
• Proven experience with academic writing
• Keen interest in theoretical, experimental and practical engineering research work

Personal characteristics

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.

We offer

• 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

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.

Regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, 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 3 years for the doctoral work. A fourth year of career promotion work may be considered depending on qualifications. (A minimum of three work years of the total term period must be dedicated to doctoral work.)

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme inEngineering 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 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 Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English.

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 Professor Klaartje De Weerdt, [e-mail] . If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Kristine Grønvold, HR-consultant, [e-mail] .

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

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.