Job Information
- Organisation/Company: SINTEF
- Department: Industry
- Research Field: Engineering » Industrial engineering; Engineering » Materials engineering; Engineering » Mechanical engineering; Engineering » Chemical engineering; Engineering » Electrical engineering; Engineering » Systems engineering; Engineering » Process engineering
Offer Description
SINTEF Industry invites applications for three PhD candidate positions within HeatMinds, a European research project funded through the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) programme.
Hosted by SINTEF's Department of Metal Production and Processing (MPP) and Department of Sustainable Energy Technology (BET), the positions focus on industrial high-temperature heat pumps, energy system integration and industrial decarbonisation.
Successful candidates will conduct doctoral research within SINTEF's Casting, Forming and Recycling, and Solar Energy and Materials research groups. They will be enrolled in the doctoral programme at Brunel University of London and receive joint supervision from researchers at SINTEF and Brunel's College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences.
The programme includes a secondment at one of HeatMinds' industrial partner organisations, offering opportunities to collaborate with academic and industrial partners across Europe.
Applicants can choose from three research topics: industrial energy flow mapping and decarbonisation pathways, digital twin frameworks for predictive modelling and optimisation, or grid integration and sector coupling for industrial heat electrification.
Where to apply
Applications are submitted through SINTEF's vacancy page: https://www.sintef.no/en/sintef-group/career/vacant-positions/position/145822/.
Requirements
Research Field: Engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
- Energy engineering and materials science
- Thermal and industrial energy systems
- Energy flow and process integration modelling
- Techno-economic and energy system modelling
- Industrial decarbonisation and waste heat recovery
- High-temperature heat pump integration
- Industrial digitalisation and data analytics
- Technology management and industrial transformation
Specific Requirements
- Relevant Master’s degree in Materials 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 a similar field.
- The degree must be completed and documented before 1 January 2027.
- Strong academic record (grade B or better) or demonstrated research potential.
- Excellent written and spoken English. Applicants must meet one of the following 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).
- MSCA mobility rule: candidates must not have lived, worked or studied in Norway for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the employment start date.
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Research Field: Engineering
Years of Research Experience: 1 - 4
Additional Information
Benefits
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.
Eligibility criteria
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.
Additional comments
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.
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.
Website for additional job details: https://www.sintef.no/en/sintef-group/career/vacant-positions/position/145822/
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 3
Company/Institute: SINTEF
Country: Norway
Contact
State/Province: Norway
City: Trondheim
Website: http://www.sintef.com
Street: Strindvn 4
Postal Code: NO-7465
E-Mail: Morten.I.Onsoien@sintef.no; sarina.bao@sintef.no; gaute.stokkan@sintef.no; EivindJohannes.Ovrelid@sintef.no
Phone: Topic 1 and 3 Morten Ingar Onsøien Research Manager Phone: +47 92458466; Topic 1 and 3 Sarina Bao Senior Researcher Phone: +47 93003325; Topic 2 and 3 Gaute Stokkan Research Manager Phone: +47 41559851; Topic 2 and 3 Eivind Johannes Øvrelid Senior Researcher Phone: +47 98230449