PhD Candidate in Modern Economic History

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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 position is for a period of three years and would start on 1 February 2026.

We offer an exciting 3-year PhD position that gives you the opportunity to develop a strong profile as researcher. The 3-year PhD fellowship is associated with a European Research Council/Horizon Europe research project, entitled “BLOCKADE: The Hidden Weapon. Blockade in the Era of the Two Worlds”. The project explores the impact and legacy of the (sea) blockades during and after both world wars and is undertaken by international teams in four locations, including at NTNU, the University of Freiburg, the University of Amsterdam and the University of Hamburg. For a position as a PhD fellow, the goal is a completed doctoral education and the attainment of a doctoral degree.  

PhD Candidate will focus on the work package Living Standards. This work package will examine the effect of blockade-induced shortages in order to establish the extent to which these shortages affected the standard of living and post-war consumption habits of households. The project will focus on one major blockaded belligerent (e.g., Germany, or Austria-Hungary) and on one blockaded neutral or occupied country (e.g., Norway, Poland, Belgium) in the First World War or in the Second World War. The PhD will have to develop meaningful indicators as standard concepts on measuring living standards do not work for wartime. They will also have to isolate blockade effects from larger wartime factors. Published and unpublished quantitative data, diaries, newspapers, government files, as well as files from municipal and regional archives will serve as source base.

The PhD candidate is encouraged to develop their own approach to these questions, for example by focusing on specific goods typically consumed by private households. The working package is one of four positions across the four BLOCKADE locations that should speak to the theme of violence/care that determines the impact of blockades on demographic developments and living standards, on their adoption as a seemingly ‘benign’ form of coercion by the League of Nations and on the humanitarian responses they evoked. The theme aims to offer new insights into the connection between blockades and the totalisation and civilianisation of warfare as well as the making of modern humanitarian law and practice. The team members will work together across locations to build a rich source base for BLOCKADE. 

The PhD candidate will work with the project leader of the Trondheim team, Jonas Scherner, and their immediate ‘line manager’ will be the Head of Department. 

About the project

BLOCKADE (ERC Synergy Grant #101166983) explores the two blockades of the First and Second World Wars, and their aftermaths. In these total wars, the Allies imposed a global blockade on their enemies, and the Central and Axis powers responded with blockades of their own. Over a period of six years, the BLOCKADE team, based in Trondheim, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Freiburg, will analyse the impact of blockades on households, states, corporations and the international order; on the development of political and military strategy; on how the wars were prepared, experienced and remembered; and on how peace was made. BLOCKADE sets out to prove that these blockades are crucial to understanding not only the way the world wars were fought but also their globality and totality, their immediate effects and their long-term global repercussions. More information can also be found on www.blockades.eu

At NTNU’s Department of Modern History and Society, the project team will be located within a rewarding professional environment with an active community of PhD candidates and postdocs. 

Duties of the position

As a PhD fellow, you will be expected to:

• Develop your own approach to the project
• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
• Identify knowledge gaps in the relevant literature 
• Adopt appropriate methodology
• Gather information from a variety of sources
• Work closely with the other members of the project team
• Actively participate in the research and outreach activities of BLOCKADE 
• Actively participate in the project’s workshops, seminars and conferences 
• Contribute to data collection (qualitative and quantitative primary sources) for the central database located in Amsterdam

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have an academically relevant background within history 
• You must have a master’s degree in history or equivalent. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. 
• 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 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 
• Excellent oral and written presentation skills in English (equivalent to level B2)
• Excellent reading skills in the languages of both of the countries to be examined in the dissertation project (equivalent to level B1)

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

If you cannot document skills in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish, you will have the opportunity to take Norwegian courses corresponding to at least 15 credits. NTNU will facilitate this. The Norwegian course is optional.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations for the Universities and Colleges Act (university and colleges regulations) and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Academically relevant background within economic history. 
• Experience working with historical sources

Personal characteristics

• Self-motivated and enthusiastic
• Strong attention to detail
• Goal-oriented
• Team player
• Intellectual independence and creativity

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• An open and inclusive working environment with dedicated colleagues 
• Favourable benefits as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• 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  536 200,-  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 Historical and Cultural Studies within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout 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 academic 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 withthe 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 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 via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates upon request. The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV 
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Project outline containing proposals for an overall description of research questions, theoretical perspectives, methodological design for the project and progress plan (maximum 1500 words/4 pages) 
• Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page)
• Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work
• Possibly certificates
• 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 works 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 Professor Jonas Scherner email jonas.scherner@ntnu.no. 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR-Advisor Hege Kissten, e-mail: hege.kissten@ntnu.no.  

Application deadline: 15.09.2025

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

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.