PhD in Advanced Testing, Modelling, and Simulation of Composite Materials under High Velocity Impact

The Department of Structural Engineering has a vacancy for a

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 9000 employees and 43000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join SIMLab at the Department of Structural Engineering NTNU in the field of computational mechanics experimental mechanics and protective structures. The project focuses on developing next-generation composite armour materials for personal protection against ballistic and fragmentation threats.

Recent conflicts have highlighted the increasing importance of lightweight protective systems capable of mitigating threats from bullets and fragments generated by explosions and drones. Achieving this requires a deeper understanding of how advanced composite materials behave under extreme loading conditions.

The PhD project will combine state-of-the-art experimental testing high-speed diagnostics and advanced numerical simulations to investigate the response of composite armour subjected to high-velocity impacts. The candidate will develop and validate computational models capable of predicting penetration damage evolution and energy absorption while exploring novel lightweight material configurations for improved ballistic performance. The project will also investigate how structural impact simulations can be coupled with biomechanical surrogate models to assess injury risk from blunt-force trauma.

The successful candidate will work closely with leading industrial and research partners including NFM Group FFI IMPETUS Avient Forsvarsbygg and St. Olavs Hospital providing access to unique experimental facilities industrial case studies and internationally recognized expertise. The research is expected to contribute to the development of safer lighter and more effective protective systems while advancing the scientific understanding of composite materials under extreme dynamic loading.

Your immediate leader will be Professor Tore Børvik group leader of SIMLab.

• 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 SIMLab
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

• You must meet the requirements for admission to the facultys Doctoral ProgrammeseeSection 6-1 of the PhD regulations for more information.
• You must have a relevant Masters degree instructural engineering mechanical engineering og computational mechanics or equivalent. Your degree must include a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS) equivalent to a masters thesis
• Master students can apply but the masters degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than 01.11.2026.
• You must have a strong and relevant academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Masters degree study or equivalent education which is equal to B or better compared toNTNUs 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 academic background you may be considered if you can document that you are exceptionally suited for a PhD education for example through relevant work experience and/or peer-reviewed academic works.
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English.

The appointment is to be made in accordance withNTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.

• Experience in solid mechanics and non-linear finite element analysis.
• Experience in optical measurements related to experimental work.
• Some experience in modelling of composite materials.
• Some experience in programming (Python Fortran CUDA or similar).
• Some experience in fluid mechanics and biomechanics.

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.

• 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)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU you will have access to employee benefits.

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 populations collective skills. Our vision isKnowledge for a better worldandour 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 ofmeasures to promote equality.

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.

For employment as a PhD Candidate it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Engineering within three months of your employment contract start date and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme 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 bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act will not be able to be employed.

Please note that the candidate holding the announced position is expected to work with critical infrastructure and areas affected by control of the export of strategic goods services and technology. Candidates with the potential of not fulfilling requirement for security clearance access clearance and authorization as described in the Act Relating to National Security The Export Control Act and Act on the Implementation of International Sanctions (Sanctions Act) cannot be considered for the position (e.g. candidates from Russia Iran North Korea China among other countries).

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.

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 . If you are invited to an interview you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelors and Masters degrees.
• CV.
• Research interest/area and motivation (maximum 1-page A4 size).
• Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment.
• Name and contact information 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 both Bachelors and Masters 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 NTNUs social mission).

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 withcurrent 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 Professor Tore Børvik or Associate Professor David Morin.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process please contact HR Consultant Kristine Grønvold e-mail:

Application deadline: 11.10.2026

For practical information aboutworking at NTNU please visit this webpage.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 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. ve community.

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The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Structural Engineering

We teach mechanical engineering engineering and ICT and civil and environmental engineering. The Department conducts internationally leading research and participates in several large national research projects. The Department of Structural Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.