PhD Research Fellow in Human Thermal and Cardiovascular Physiology Western Norway University of Applied Sciences in Norway

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), Norway, is advertising a fully funded three-year PhD Research Fellow position in Human Thermal and Cardiovascular Physiology within the project ThermRisk: A Personalized Digital Human Model for Predictive Thermal Risk Assessment.

The position is based at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, with work in the Department of Health and Function, the Sport, Health and Function research group, and the Human Health and Performance Laboratory. The project is interdisciplinary and also involves collaboration with the Faculty of Education, Arts and Sports and the Faculty of Technology, Environmental and Social Sciences.

The research focuses on human thermoregulation, core temperature, cardiovascular physiology, thermal risk assessment, physiological testing, and quantitative analysis. The PhD fellow will help finalize the test protocol, recruit participants, collect physiological data, and analyze variables such as VO2max, blood pressure, sweat responses, respiratory parameters, and core/skin temperature. The work supports development of a computational digital twin for predicting thermal health risks in extreme temperatures.

This is a PhD opening rather than a scholarship. The appointment is fixed-term for three years, with an intended start date of 01.05.2027. The place of work is Campus Kronstad in Bergen.

Eligibility highlights: a completed Master’s degree in human physiology, exercise physiology, sport science, or a closely related field; strong grades (minimum B overall and in the thesis); admission eligibility for the PhD programme in Health, Function and Participation; strong English; good IT skills; and experience with human physiological testing and quantitative research. Norwegian or other Scandinavian language skills are an advantage because participant recruitment and lab work will involve Norwegian-speaking participants.

Funding: the position is fully funded and salaried, with a starting salary of NOK 568,700 per year plus standard public-sector pension/insurance benefits. The post also mentions training opportunities during working hours.

Application deadline: 1 November 2026. Applicants must submit the application and CV via Jobbnorge and upload all required documents, including a motivation/reflection letter, literature summary, thesis material, diplomas, and certified translations/recognition documents where relevant.

Contacts: Associate Professor Merete Salveson Engeset and Associate Professor Ann-Katrin Grotle are listed as contacts for the position.