PhD Candidate in Trustworthy Agentic Artificial Intelligence
Investigate trustworthy agentic AI systems using open-weight foundation models for maritime applications.
Best for:Best for computer science and engineering graduates with strong Python skills and a background in machine learning or AI agents.
Overview
The Department of ICT and Natural Sciences at NTNU in Ålesund is offering a three-year PhD position focused on developing trustworthy agentic artificial intelligence. Operating within the Norwegian Maritime AI Center, the candidate will research open-weight foundation models to ensure AI behavior is reliable, transparent, and accountable in safety-critical maritime domains. The successful applicant will collaborate with interdisciplinary research partners and industry leaders, focusing on condition monitoring and predictive maintenance. Responsibilities include designing agent architectures, executing empirical evaluations, publishing academic papers, and completing coursework.
What you'll do
- Conduct research on trustworthy agentic AI built on open-weight foundation models, covering agent architectures, reasoning, planning, and tool use.
- Develop and evaluate methods ensuring reliable and accountable agent behavior, including uncertainty quantification, interpretability, alignment, and human oversight.
- Validate developed methods using realistic maritime case studies and safety-relevant applications in collaboration with industry partners.
- Produce high-quality academic publications and participate in popular science dissemination.
- Contribute actively to the Cyber-Physical Systems Laboratory and Norwegian Maritime AI Centre activities.
- Complete a minimum of 30 ECTS credits in relevant technical coursework.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree in computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, engineering cybernetics, applied mathematics, electrical engineering, or equivalent.
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; TOEFL, IELTS (minimum 6.5 with no section below 5.5), or Cambridge CAE/CPE required for non-English speakers outside Europe
Instruction: English
- Strong academic background with an average grade equivalent to B or better on NTNU's grading scale
- Strong programming skills in Python
- Practical experience with modern machine learning frameworks
- Must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral programme in Engineering Cybernetics
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-31
Submit your application through the official portal by clicking 'Apply for this job'. Ensure all required academic credentials and language test scores are uploaded prior to the deadline.
- CV
- Master's transcripts
- Language test report if applicable
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