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European Research Council/Horizon Europe Project on Blockades in the World Wars
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Trondheim, Norway
Application Deadline: April 29, 2026
Overview
The Department of Historical Sciences at NTNU invites applications for a 3-year fully funded PhD position in Modern Economic History. This position is part of the ERC/Horizon Europe “BLOCKADE” project, which investigates the impact and long-term consequences of naval blockades during the First and Second World Wars.
The PhD project focuses on blockade-induced innovations, industrial imitation, and postwar market integration, aiming to understand how scarcity, protection, and autarky policies affected the development of new industries and their long-term success or failure.
Research Focus
The doctoral researcher will:
- Analyze company files and historical records from two countries affected by blockades (e.g., Italy, Norway, Austria-Hungary, Japan)
- Examine innovation, imitation, and market integration resulting from wartime blockades
- Develop individual research approaches within the framework of the project, potentially focusing on a specific industrial sector
- Contribute to data collection for the central BLOCKADE database in Amsterdam
- Collaborate with international teams across NTNU, University of Freiburg, University of Amsterdam, and University of Hamburg
- Participate in seminars, workshops, and conferences organized within the BLOCKADE projectCandidate Profile
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in History or equivalent (120 ECTS at master’s level)
- Strong academic record (average grade B or better)
- Admission eligibility for NTNU’s Doctoral Programme in Historical and Cultural Studies
- Excellent English proficiency (oral and written, B2)
- Reading proficiency in languages relevant to the countries studied (B1)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Background in economic history
- Experience handling historical sources and archival research
Personal Qualities:
- Self-motivated and enthusiastic
- Detail-oriented and goal-focused
- Team player with intellectual independence and creativity
Employment Conditions
- Full-time PhD research fellow (code 1017)
- Duration: 3 years, with the possibility of extension under NTNU guidelines
- Gross annual salary: NOK 550,800 (subject to statutory pension contribution)
- Employment requires admission to the NTNU doctoral program and participation in organized doctoral studies
- Benefits include: membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK), travel funds, and professional development opportunities
Research Environment
- BLOCKADE project: ERC Synergy Grant #101166983, www.blockades.eu
- Interdisciplinary, international collaboration with teams in Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands
- NTNU’s Department of Historical Sciences provides a supportive academic environment with active PhD and postdoctoral communities
- Trondheim offers a high quality of life, international schools, cultural events, and outdoor recreation
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit all documents in English via Jobbnorge.no:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees
- Copy or draft of Master’s thesis
- Project outline (max. 1500 words / 4 pages) describing research questions, methodology, theoretical framework, and progress plan
- Short motivation letter (1 page / 400 words)
- List of publications or other relevant research work (if any)
- Name and contact information of three referees
- Certificates or documentation of language skills if required
This PhD position is ideal for candidates seeking to combine economic history with rigorous archival research on the long-term effects of wartime blockades, while engaging in a highly international and collaborative research environment.
Apply now at : https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/296312/phd-research-fellow-in-modern-economic-history
