SINTEF Industry, Department of Metal Production and Processing (MPP) & Department of Sustainable Energy Technology (BET) and announce three PhD candidate position within the field of Energy engineering and material science.
The position is within the frame of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN). The candidates will be employed by the Casting, Forming, and Recycling and Solar Energy and Materials research groups during the doctoral project, enrolled by the doctoral program at Brunel University of London, and have supervisors both at SINTEF and Brunel, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Science. As part of the MSCA Doctoral Network programme, the successful candidate will undertake a secondment with one of the project's industrial partners.
Contacts
Topic 1 and 3
Morten Ingar Onsøien Research Manager E-mail: Phone: +47 92458466
Sarina Bao Senior Researcher E-mail: Phone: +47 93003325
Topic 2 and 3
Gaute Stokkan Research Manager E-mail: Phone: +47 41559851
Eivind Johannes Øvrelid Senior Researcher E-mail: Phone: +47 98230449
Work place: SINTEF Trondheim and Nordland (secondment partners).
Questions regarding the position
SINTEF Industry is a contract-based institute delivering research-based solutions and services that generate wealth for its clients both in Norway and overseas. On the basis of our multidisciplinary knowledge and advanced laboratories, we develop, in close collaboration with our clients and partners, technology and cross-disciplinary solutions within a wide range of technical and market segments.
About the project
This position’s scope is
- Integrated Modelling of Thermal Energy Flows, Waste Heat Recovery, and High-Temperature Heat Pump Deployment in Industrial Clusters.
- Development and Validation of Modular Digital Twin Frameworks for Industrial High-Temperature Heat Pump Integration
- Developing Decarbonisation Pathways for Industrial Heat Through High-Temperature Heat Pumps, Renewable Energy Integration, and Thermal Storage
The activity is coordinated within the MSCA-DN by the Brunel University of London. The HeatMinds project is officially launched in October 2026 and holds a consortium of 6 partners and 12 Associated partners across Europe.
The project aims to undertake cutting-edge multidisciplinary research and development to make a step change in the understanding of Industrial High Temperature Heat Pump (IHTHP) technology, both at the overall system and component levels while addressing sustainability, economic social impact and energy policy aspects to support realising its potential to provide a breakthrough towards full industrial heat decarbonisation helping to achieve the 2050 net-zero emissions targets.
The topics hosted by SINTEF is
- "Mapping Industrial Energy Flows and Developing Decarbonisation Pathways for IHTHP Integration" and focus on developing data-driven strategies for industrial heat decarbonisation by mapping energy flows, integrating HTHPs with low-carbon technologies, and creating decision-support databases for system design and sustainability assessment.
- "Development of Digital Twin Frameworks for Predictive Modelling and Optimisation of IHTHPs" and focus on developing and validating digital twin frameworks for the integration and optimisation of IHTHPs in high-temperature industrial processes, enhancing the understanding of industrial energy flows and optimisation strategies, and enabling factory-wide digital energy management systems to support industrial digitalisation, energy efficiency, and decarbonisation.
- "Grid integration and sector coupling challenges of electrifying industrial heat using IHTHPs" and focus integrating IHTHPs, renewable energy, and thermal storage to enhance grid flexibility, support industrial decarbonisation, and enable scalable low-carbon heat solutions.
The project combines engineering analysis with industrial implementation perspectives, including decision-support methodologies, stakeholder engagement, business case development, techno-economic assessments, innovation management, and pathways for industrial adoption of low-carbon technologies.
SINTEF MPP & BET and HeatMinds partners combines expertise in IHTHPs, digital twins, thermal energy systems, waste heat recovery, industrial decarbonisation, data analytics, and socio-economic assessment. The project includes international secondments at academic and industrial institutions and close collaboration with the related PhD positions at Brunel.
Duties of the position
- Publish scientific articles and contribute to dissemination activities.
- Engage in collaboration and secondments with HeatMinds partners.
- Participate in conferences, workshops and training activities.
- Adjust project focus as the PhD progresses if needed.
- Complete doctoral education.
- Participate actively in the Casting, Forming, and Recycling and Solar Energy and Materials two research groups.
Required selection criteria
- Relevant Master's degree in Material Science, Mechanical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Sustainable Energy Systems, Industrial Ecology, Technology Management, Engineering Management, Systems Engineering, Industrial Digitalisation, or similar.
- Experience with data analytics, decision-support systems, digitalisation, industrial management, innovation management, technology transfer, project portfolio management, or industrial transformation projects is considered an advantage
- Degree completed and documented before 1 January 2027.
- Strong academic record (grade B or better) or demonstrated research potential.
- Applicants must meet one of the following English language requirements: IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components), PTE Academic 59 (minimum 59 in all subscores), BrunELT 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components), or TOEFL iBT 5.0 (minimum 4.5 in all subscores). Further details on accepted qualifications can be found on Brunel University's English Language Requirements page.
MSCA Mobility Rule At the time of employment, the candidate must not have lived, worked, or studied in Norway for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the start date.
Preferred selection criteria
- Experience with one or more of energy engineering, material science, thermal energy systems, industrial energy systems, process systems engineering, sustainable energy technology, industrial ecology, energy and environmental engineering, industrial decarbonisation, energy Informatics, and mechanical engineering
- Experience with one or more of energy flow modelling, process integration modelling, techno-economic modelling, energy system modelling.
- Familiarity with one or more of industrial waste heat, including energy flow mapping, integration of high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) with low-carbon technologies, and development of decision-support databases for system design and sustainability assessment.
- Candidates with experience in technology management, industrial transformation, digitalisation, data analytics, or technology commercialisation are encouraged to apply.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in international interdisciplinary teams.
Personal characteristics
To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to
- Work independently and take initiative.
- Plan and carry out research systematically.
- Collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
- Show strong motivation and curiosity.
- Communicate clearly and constructively with colleagues.
Emphasis will be placed on personal suitability and motivation for the position.
We offer
- Exciting research project within an international MSCA Doctoral Network.
- Dynamic, creative and inclusive work environment.
- Access to cutting-edge facilities and interdisciplinary training.
- Career development and mentoring through the HeatMinds network.
Salary and conditions
The employment period is 3 years, funded through the EU Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network grant HeatMinds.
For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme 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.
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 legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services for both SINTEF and Brunel; Eksportkontroll – DEKSA. Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria, will not be able to be employed.
About the application
The application must include:
- Motivation letter (max. 1 page)
- CV
- Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas/transcripts
- Master’s thesis or draft (if recently submitted)
- Names and contact information of two references
Applications without required documentation will not be considered.
Documents must be in English.
Applicants are requested to indicate in their application which of the three proposed SINTEF PhD research topics they wish to pursue.
