PhD Candidate in Material Flow Analysis (MFA) for informing Circular Economy and Ecodesign

This is NTNUNTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

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.

Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0About the positionDo you want your research to influence both industry practice and European sustainability policy?

The Industrial Ecology Group (IndEcol) at the Department of Energy and Process Engineering at NTNU conducts research on sustainability transition, focusing on the interconnections between quality of life, economic activity, and environmental impacts, with the aim of supporting development within planetary boundaries.

Research activities focus on the development of quantitative models (including material flow analysis (MFA), life cycle analysis (LCA), multi-regional input-output (MRIO), and a variety of tools for collecting and visualizing data) and their use with stakeholders from industry and governments to inform strategies fora sustainable and resilient resource use. As a PhD student at IndEcol, you will be exposed to a thriving environment of people with a passion for a healthy and sustainable future.

Your supervisor will be Professor Daniel Müller.

About the projectThis PhD position is part of an academic network working on ecodesign, an international research and training initiative. The network aims to advance ecodesign methodologies and manufacturing strategies that enable circular economy practices at industrial scale, in line with European sustainability and resource-efficiency policy objectives.

Circular economy strategies, including ecodesign, are becoming increasingly important not only for environmental reasons, but also for securing access to critical raw materials (CRMs). This is particularly relevant for batteries and electronics, which rely heavily on imported CRMs, creating vulnerabilities in supply chains and posing risks to European industries that are central to the transition toward carbon-neutral mobility. Circular strategies — including reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling — have the potential to improve resource efficiency, reduce emissions and import dependency, and strengthen supply-chain resilience. However, the development of robust domestic and circular supply chains is currently hindered by a range of technological, economic, social, and regulatory barriers. Addressing these challenges requires stronger coordination among companies and regulators to align business opportunities, infrastructure development, and policy frameworks. In this context, a robust understanding of industrial plants and supply chains as interconnected physical systems is essential for identifying inefficiencies across scales and for aligning regulations with sustainable and competitive business strategies.

The objective of this PhD project is to develop a multi-scale framework for improving the resource efficiency of critical materials used in batteries. The candidate will model the stocks and flows of selected critical raw materials within industrial plants, across value chains, and at the EU level using Material Flow Analysis (MFA). Scenarios will be used to identify potential bottlenecks, problem shifts, feedbacks, and delays for different intervention options with the aim to identify opportunities for enhancing resource efficiency and circularity at multiple scales, from individual facilities to broader industrial systems and the European Union. To ensure the scientific robustness and practical relevance of the research for both industry and policy makers, the PhD project includes two mandatory international secondments (2–3 months each).

Duties of the positionComplete the doctoral education to obtain a doctorateCarry out research of high quality within the framework described abovePublish your work in academic journals and engage in popular science disseminationParticipate in the research group (Industrial Ecology)Participate in events organized by the doctoral networkAttend conferences to present your researchBe prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteriaYou must have a relevant Master’s degree in natural science, engineering, or equivalent. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at Master's level. Master`s students can apply, but the Master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position, and preferably no later than July 2026.You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with 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 maybe considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.You must meet the requirements for admission to the Faculty of Engineering Doctoral Programme.In order to comply with regulations, at the time of recruitment, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work or studies) in Norway for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding 01.10.2026.You must be able to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.You must have practical experience with material flow analysis (MFA).You must have a strong interest in cooperating in inter- and transdisciplinary settings, being driven by understanding complex problems from multiple perspectives.PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

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

Preferred selection criteriaExperience with Python programming is beneficial, but not essential.Practical work experience in industrial companies and/or in government administrations is advantageous.Experience with work on batteries and value chains would be a great advantage.Knowledge of Norwegian or a Scandinavian language is an asset but not required.
Personal characteristicsTo complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to: 

Work independentlyWork in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve themShow curiosity and a strong motivation for the subjectEmphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offerEvaluate and remove/add what is relevant for the position.

An exciting job with an important mission in societyDeveloping tasks in a strong and international professional environmentCareer guidance and follow-up during the PhD periodOpen and inclusive working environment with committed colleaguesSupport as a new employee at NTNUFavorable 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.

DiversityDiversity 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.

The Department of Energy and Process Engineering (EPT) has established EPT Women in Science. The group is focused on supporting female Research Assistants, PhD Candidates, Postdoctoral Fellows and permanent academic employees within the Department. This support aims to helpdevelop the academic careers of female employees, and is also made visible to our student body, to encourage them to consider an academic path. As part of the EPT Women in Science initiative we continue to build on our international network, inviting prominent female academics within and beyond the field of Engineering to speak at our events.

Salary and conditionsIn the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,-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 3 years.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Engineering within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out the period of employment.

The position is conditional on external funding.

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 bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the applicationThe network adheres to the European Charter for R

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