PhD Candidate in Multi-Robot Informative Planning for Coastal Monitoring

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

Benefits offered by this job

Pension fund SPK

Open and inclusive working environment

Career guidance during PhD

Job summary

NTNU Ålesund invites applications for a PhD position in distributed informative planning for teams of autonomous and remotely operated marine vehicles. The project targets coastal environmental monitoring, involving USVs and UAVs, to build a shared predictive picture of marine environments and coordinate vehicle actions under real-world constraints.

The PhD candidate will join the CPS Lab, conduct theory, simulation and field experiments, and publish results while studying in NTNU's doctoral

Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering cybernetics, robotics, control engineering, marine technology, mechatronics or closely related field (five-year Norwegian program; master degree documented before start).
• Strong programming skills in Python or C++.
• Ability to meet admission requirements for the faculty's doctoral programme in Engineering Cybernetics.
• Applicants from non-English speaking countries outside Europe must present an official language test (TOEFL/IELTS/CAE/CPE).

Responsibilities

• Complete the doctoral training programme and obtain a PhD degree.
• Conduct high-quality research within the described framework.
• Develop, implement and test algorithms in simulation and on real vehicles.
• Plan and participate in field experiments with USVs and UAVs.
• Contribute to academic publications and popular science dissemination.
• Engage in international academic activities (conferences/research stays).
• Take courses totalling at least 30 ECTS.

Skills

Python

C++

Education

Master's degree in engineering cybernetics or related field

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Gazebo

GPU-accelerated computing

Job description

About The Position

The Department of ICT and Natural Sciences (IIR) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Ålesund is opening a PhD position in distributed informative planning for teams of autonomous and remotely operated marine vehicles, with applications in coastal environmental monitoring. Coastal waters and fjords change continuously. Pollutants spread, floating litter drifts with wind and currents, and water quality and biological activity vary across both space and time. A single vehicle can only observe a small part of such an environment at once. Teams of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), supported by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), can cover larger areas, observe processes from several viewpoints at the same time, and respond to what they detect. To use such teams effectively, the vehicles must build a shared and predictive picture of the environment and decide together where each of them should go next. They must do this under the real constraints of the marine environment, including limited communication, changing weather and heterogeneous vehicles. The position is part of NTNU Ålesund’s work on ocean intelligence: collecting data about the ocean to support use cases such as monitoring of fish spawning grounds, mapping of microplastics and suspended contamination and water quality monitoring. The position builds on ongoing research at the department on autonomous surface vehicles, informative path planning, online mapping of spatial fields and tracking of drifting targets, which has been validated in field trials. The PhD project will extend these methods from single vehicles to cooperating teams of heterogeneous vehicles. The research will combine theory, simulation and field experiments. Field work will be carried out in coastal waters near Ålesund with the department's fleet of USVs and UAVs.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral training programme and successfully obtain a PhD degree.
• Conduct high-quality research within the framework described above.
• Develop, implement and test algorithms in simulation and on real vehicles.
• Plan and take part in field experiments with teams of USVs and UAVs.
• Contribute to academic publications and engage in popular science dissemination.
• Actively participate in the research group Cyber-Physical Systems Laboratory (CPS Lab).
• Engage in international academic activities, including conferences and/or research stays at partner institutions abroad.
• Take courses in relevant technical topics, comprising a minimum of 30 ECTS.

Required Selection Criteria

• You must have a relevant Master's degree in engineering cybernetics, robotics, control engineering, marine technology, mechatronics or a closely related field. Candidates with strong backgrounds in computer science, applied mathematics or data science combined with relevant experience in robotics, optimization or machine learning will also be considered.
• Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position.
• 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 have good programming skills, for example in Python or C++.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral programme in Engineering Cybernetics.
• Applicants from non-English speaking countries outside Europe must present an official language test report. The acceptable tests are TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE).
• Minimum scores are:
• TOEFL: 600 / writing 4.5 (paper-based) or 92 / writing 22 (internet-based)
• IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS test accepted)
• CAE/CPE: grade B or A.

Preferred Selection Criteria

• Experience with multi-agent or multi-robot systems, distributed optimization or distributed estimation
• Experience with informative path planning, model predictive control or sampling-based planning
• Experience with Gaussian processes or other probabilistic mapping methods
• Experience with ROS/ROS2, robotics simulators such as Gazebo, or GPU-accelerated computing
• Experience with field work, marine vehicles or drones
• Drone pilot certificate (EU A1/A3 or A2) and/or boat driving license for Norway
• Demonstrated research ability, e.g. through publications, thesis work, technical reports or open-source contributions.
• Relevant industry or applied research experience.

Personal characteristics

• Work independently and in a structured way, as well as collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team
• Communicate effectively and present and discuss your research with other professionals
• 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
• 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
• Favorable terms 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 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, with the possibility of up to 12 months additional employment related to career-enhancing activities.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Engineering Cybernetics 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 bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

Application deadline

30.11.2026

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.

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 ICT and Natural Sciences

Our campus in Ålesund works in a partnership with industry that is in a class of its own among Norwegian universities. This ensures a practical focus for our study programmes, while they are firmly anchored in modern theory. The Department offers programmes in automation engineering, computer engineering, and mechatronics and automation engineering. Our research areas include autonomous systems, robotics, cybernetics, artificial intelligence, energy informatics and medical technology. The Department of ICT and Natural Sciences is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering .

Questions About The Position

Erlend Magnus Lervik Coates

Associate Professor

[e-mail]

Silje Storbråten Kjersem

[e-mail]