PhD Candidate in Human-Centred Design for AI Companionship and Care in Ageing Societies

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

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

About the position

The Department of Design at NTNU invites applications for a fully funded PhD position within the Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence (HCAI) Lab at NTNU Gjøvik. The position offers an opportunity to conduct mixed method research, applying human-centred design methods and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) perspectives to investigate how AI companionship technologies may reshape experiences of care, companionship, emotional support, wellbeing, and autonomy among older adults.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About the project

Many countries are experiencing demographic changes associated with ageing populations, increasing pressure on healthcare systems and growing concerns regarding social isolation and loneliness among older adults. A large body of research shows that this, in turn, can pose severe risks to their physical and mental health, eroding community social resilience and impacting quality of life – as well as longevity in general.

At the same time, advances in AI have led to the development of conversational agents, AI companions, and socially assistive technologies designed to provide social and emotional support while removing barriers like accessibility and stigma. Within this context, the PhD candidate will contribute to developing conceptual and functional prototypes that explore alternative futures for AI companionship and care using action-oriented, empathy-driven, and inclusive design methods.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
• Research on why and how AI companionship can address challenges of ageing population
• Engage in developing, testing, and evaluating prototypes in-house as well as with external stakeholders
• Take part in both scientific and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the HCAI Lab and relevant research networks
• Be involved in international activities, such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Teaching
• Other career-promoting work

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a master's degree in design or a related field
• You must have a strong interest in human-centred AI and the societal implications of AI technologies
• You must have experience with building prototypes
• You must have experience with qualitative methods and/or mixed methods
• Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at the master's level. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than 15th of July 2027.
• You must have an average grade from your master's degree studies, or equivalent education, which is equal to a 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 meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme
• You must have good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent to level B2, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills in English

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

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience conducting user-oriented studies, such as interviews, workshops, or co-design activities
• Knowledge of accessibility, universal and inclusive design, ageing, wellbeing, healthcare technologies, or welfare technologies
• Dissemination of research in relevant venues

Personal characteristics

We seek a PhD candidate who is:

• Curious, open-minded, and motivated to explore innovative HCAI solutions
• Able to work independently and collaboratively
• Interested in combining theory, research, and design practice
• Enthusiastic about connecting with people and engaging with real-world societal challenges
• Willing to contribute to a positive work atmosphere

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
• 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

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.

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 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 4 years for the doctoral work 12 months of career promotion work.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in [subject area] (link to possible website) 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 be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application

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

The application must include:

• Cover letter describing motivation for the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Copies of academic transcripts and diplomas
• Master's thesis (or equivalent major research project)
• Publications and other scholarly work (if applicable)
• Portfolio demonstrating design, prototyping, or research work (if applicable)
• Research Vision Statement (maximum two pages, excluding references)
• Names and contact information of three relevant 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 Bachelor's and Master's 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 NTNU's social mission).

General information

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 with current 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 Associate Professor Anne Britt Torkildsby, +47 90193130, anne.torkildsby@ntnu.no, Associate Professor Yavuz Inal, +47 41301855, yavuz.inal@ntnu.no or Postdoctoral Fellow Sujay Shalawadi, sujay.shalawadi@ntnu.no.

Application deadline: 26.10.2026

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage.

Gjøvik, a charming town by the shores of Lake Mjøsa, is known for its beautiful nature and rich cultural offerings. The town boasts a vibrant community with excellent schools, modern healthcare services, and a variety of recreational activities. With its strategic location, just a short drive from Oslo, Gjøvik combines the best of urban life and natural experiences. Here, you'll find a dynamic business environment and exciting career opportunities in a setting that values work-life balance.

Department of Design

We are located in both Trondheim (industrial design) and Gjøvik (graphic design and web technology). Both groups have expertise in interaction design and share research interests in health and welfare technology. The design environment links many technology communities at NTNU, and nationally the Department has extensive collaboration with Norwegian industrial companies. The Department of Design is one of four departments in the Faculty of Architecture and Design.