PhD Candidate in Human Performance and Situational Awareness in Multi-UxV Remote Operations Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway

NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology is advertising a PhD Candidate position in Human Performance and Situational Awareness in Multi-UxV Remote Operations at the Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering in Ålesund, Norway.

The project addresses a timely challenge in maritime security and preparedness: how humans can safely and effectively supervise multiple unmanned vehicles (UxV) — including UAVs, USVs, and UUVs — from Remote Operation Centers. The research focuses on operator situational awareness, cognitive load, autonomy, authority sharing, and interface design in complex defence-oriented and preparedness scenarios.

The successful candidate will investigate how ROC operators build situational awareness across cognitive, strategic, and organisational dimensions when managing two to four UxV systems simultaneously. A second focus is the risk that screen-based supervision reduces awareness of the immediate physical environment, which is especially important for ROC survivability in contested settings. The work will use simulator-based experiments and full-scale field studies at Fjordlab, NTNU Ålesund’s advanced maritime test environment with multi-sensor infrastructure and an UxV fleet.

Methodologically, the project draws on established human factors and automation frameworks, including SAGAT, NASA-TLX, eye-tracking, Endsley’s situational awareness model, Haavik’s sensework framework, and Parasuraman’s taxonomy of automation. The research is multidisciplinary and is expected to contribute practical design principles for ROC interfaces, operational guidelines for multi-UxV supervision, and a foundation for future European-scale research.

This is a full-time temporary PhD position for 3 years. The salary is normally NOK 550,800 per annum, depending on qualifications and seniority. The position is linked to NTNU’s PhD programme in Engineering, and admission is required within three months of employment start.

Eligibility highlights include a relevant master’s degree in maritime operations, maritime industry, aviation, defence operations, or a related high-stakes operational environment; a strong academic record; and high proficiency in English. Preferred backgrounds include human factors and ergonomics, maritime studies, cognitive science, and organizational studies, along with experience in experimental methods and fieldwork. Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is an advantage for communication and presentation.

Applications must be submitted by 30 August 2026. Required documents include transcripts and diplomas, CV, copy or draft of the master’s thesis, a project outline, motivation letter, supporting publications or certificates where relevant, and contact information for three referees. Foreign-educated applicants should include documentation of degree scope and quality, such as a diploma supplement or HK-dir statement if available.

For questions about the position, contact Associate Professor Andreas Madsen at [email protected]. For recruitment process questions, contact PhD Coordinator Lara Bromann at [email protected].