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Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering
Application Deadline: April 25, 2026
Employment Type: Full-time, 3 years
Salary: NOK 550,800 per annum (Code 1017 PhD Candidate)
Supervisor: Professor Henrique M. Gaspar ([email protected])
Location: Trondheim, Norway
PhD in Maritime AI and Structured Vessel Design Information
NTNU invites applications for a PhD position in AI-supported maritime design, focusing on structured information models for integrated ship design and computational reasoning.
The project addresses a core challenge in the maritime sector: technical knowledge is fragmented across documents and systems, making it difficult to track dependencies and assess the impact of design changes. This PhD will develop structured, machine-interpretable representations of vessel designs that support AI-based reasoning, explainability, and decision support.
Research Focus: AI-Enabled Maritime Design Frameworks
The PhD project aims to create a semantic foundation for AI in ship design, enabling coherent reasoning across systems and lifecycle phases.
Key research themes include:
1. Representation of Vessel Design Knowledge
- Modeling components, subsystems, constraints, and cross-system dependencies
- Designing structures that support both human interpretation and AI reasoning
- Exploring ontologies, knowledge graphs, and hybrid information models
2. Integration with Engineering Workflows
- Ensuring compatibility with existing maritime design tools and processes
- Introducing structured information models without disrupting established practices
3. Technology Assessment
- Evaluating ontologies and knowledge graphs for maritime applications
- Developing prototype demonstrators for real-world ship design tasks
- Validating improvements in dependency visibility and change-impact assessment
The candidate will develop prototype models and computational tools, tested in collaboration with maritime industry partners.
About the Project: Norwegian Maritime AI Center
This PhD is part of the Norwegian Maritime AI Center, a national initiative funded for 2026–2030 to accelerate AI adoption in maritime value chains.
The center focuses on use cases such as:
- Ship design and construction
- Voyage planning and optimization
- Condition monitoring and maintenance
- Maritime traffic and surveillance
- Decarbonization and energy management
- Autonomous and remotely controlled vessels
The center brings together leading institutions and industry clusters, fostering AI innovation in maritime engineering, logistics, and operations.
Candidate Requirements
Mandatory Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
- Strong academic record (equivalent to grade B or higher on NTNU scale)
- Affinity with programming, AI tools, and computational model development
- Eligibility for admission to NTNU’s PhD Programme in Engineering
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in maritime research or industry
- Experience in AI research, ontologies, or knowledge representation
- Strong written and oral English skills
Personal Qualities
Successful candidates should demonstrate the ability to:
- Work independently on long-term research
- Collaborate closely with maritime industry partners
- Communicate research effectively in academic and industrial contexts
- Navigate research uncertainty with flexibility and initiative
- Publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences
What NTNU Offers
- A strong technical-scientific research environment
- Collaboration with academic and industrial partners
- Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- Free Norwegian language training (A2 level)
- Inclusive and diverse workplace culture
- Access to doctoral training and career development opportunities
Employment Conditions
- 3-year doctoral employment
- Admission to NTNU’s PhD Programme required within 3 months of start
- Physical presence at the institution expected
- Employment subject to Norwegian State Employees Act and export control regulations
Application Requirements
Submit your application electronically via the official recruitment portal before April 25, 2026.
Required documents:
- CV
- Transcripts and diplomas (Bachelor’s and Master’s)
- Master’s thesis (or draft if recently submitted)
- Project outline (max. 1500 words) including research questions, theoretical framework, methodology, and timeline
- Publications or other relevant research work (if applicable)
- Names and contact details of three referees
Applicants educated abroad must include full documentation of degree scope and grading system.
Contact Information
Academic inquiries:
Professor Henrique M. Gaspar
[email protected]
Recruitment process inquiries:
HR Lara Bromann
[email protected]
This PhD position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the digital transformation of maritime engineering, advancing AI-supported ship design through structured information models and computational reasoning.
Apply now at: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/296413/phd-candidate-in-information-structures-for-integrated-and-aisupported-maritime-design
