PhD Candidate in large language models(LLMs) for data extraction and reasoning in materials science

About the position

The Department of Materials Science and Engieering has a vacancy for a

PhD Candidate in large language models(LLMs) for data extraction and reasoning in materials science

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NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education.

As a PhD Candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, in and outside academia.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (IMA) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has a vacant position as PhD candidate in the field of machine learning for materials science.

The PhD candidate will develop and evaluate large language models (LLMs) assisted methods for extracting, organising and assessing complex scientific information related to materials.

Existing LLMs will be adapted to process materials science data, answer complex queries related to materials science, and formulate research hypotheses that can be benchmarked through physical experiments or computational simulations.

The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and is a collaboration between NTNU and Norsk Regnesentral (The Norwegian Computing Centre).

The PhD candidate will be a part of the research group FACET (Functional Materials and Materials Chemistry).

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.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions 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.

An exciting PhD position in an internationally oriented research environment.

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.

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,-per annum.

Motivation for the position, ambitions, and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

We are Norway's leading educational and research environment in materials engineering, materials chemistry and materials science.

Additional application instructions:
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 English preferably, or in a Scandinavian language.
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 and diplomas upon request.
The application must include:
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.
Application deadline: 20.09.2026
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What you’ll bring

• You must have a relevant Master's degree in materials science, solid-state chemistry, condensed matter physics, or a closely related discipline.
• Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level.
• Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position.
• 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.
• Documented experience with Python or another relevant programming language, or with computational materials science/chemistry.
• 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.
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
• 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.
• When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability.
• 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 Prof.
• If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Advisor Marie Kristiansen, e-mail: marie.kristiansen@ntnu.no
• You must have a relevant Master's degree in materials science, solid-state chemistry, condensed matter physics, or a closely related discipline. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position.
• 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 NV faculty's Doctoral Programme. (https://www.ntnu.edu/nv/phd)
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English.
• 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 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.
• Experience or strong interest in one or more of the following areas is considered an advantage:
• Machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing or data science.
• Electronic structure calculations (e.g. DFT or tight-binding methods), or thermodynamic modelling (e.g. statistical mechanics, MD or CALPHAD).
• Scientific data analysis.
• Interdisciplinary research at the interface between physical sciences and AI.

At a glance

Position type

PhD

Institution

NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Department

Department of Materials Science and Engieering

Research group

Not stated

Location

Norway

Supervisor / contact person

Prof. Sverre M. Selbach

Funding

Salaried
The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and is a collaboration between NTNU and Norsk Regnesentral (The Norwegian Computing Centre).
Salary and conditions
In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,-per annum.
A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.
The position is conditional on external funding.

Duration

Fixed Term

Expected start

Not stated

Vacancy reference

Not stated

Research focus

Discipline

Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics

Research area

Not stated

Methods

DFT, Synthesis, Molecular dynamics (MD)

Software

Python

Dates to know

Listed on FOSS Positions

18 Sep 2026

Original advertisement date

Not stated in the source

Application deadline

20 Sep 2026 Timezone not stated. Check the original advert.

Priority review date

Not stated

Last checked

18 Sep 2026

Last updated

18 Sep 2026

Application deadline: 20.09.2026

How to apply

Apply for this job
You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.
Can AI interpret graphs like a human materials scientist that relates diagrams to composition temperature, pressure, synthesis, processing and uncertainty? The PhD candidate will develop and evaluate large language models (LLMs) assisted methods for extracting, organising and assessing complex scientific information related to materials. The initial application will be phase diagrams and related data for inorganic materials, particularly oxides. Existing LLMs will be adapted to process materials science data, answer complex queries related to materials science, and formulate research hypotheses that can be benchmarked through physical experiments or computational simulations.
You must have a relevant Master's degree in materials science, solid-state chemistry, condensed matter physics, or a closely related discipline. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position.
PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.
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 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 application

https://www.ntnu.edu/vacancies/

Contact: selbach@ntnu.nomarie.kristiansen@ntnu.no

Original sources

https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/307723/phd-candidate-in-large-language-modelsllms-for-data-extraction-and-reasoning-in-materials-science ↗

https://www.ntnu.edu/vacancies/ ↗