This information is aimed at the leader group at the IE faculty.

The purpose of a postdoctoral position is for the employee to develop a research profile and competence that qualifies him or her to apply for a position as an associate professor. The position may also provide other expertise of relevance to the postdoctoral fellow's further career (uhregulations (UH forskrift), section 3-18).

It is important to increase the career readiness by raising career awareness and supporting postdoctoral fellows in their career development and to improve the attractiveness and quality of postdoctoral positions at IE.

For this we have defined specific actions.

1. Revise the roadmap regularly

• Responsible: Vice dean of research in collaboration with leader group.

2. Make sure and continue to follow NTNUs routines for recruitment and onboarding

NTNU has established routines both for recruitment and onboarding.

• Responsible: Head of Department (strategic decision for implementation)
• Contribute to implementation: HR (department and faculty) and department postdoc coordinators.

3. Establish scientific start-up meeting

• Responsible: Head of Department (strategic decision for implementation)
• Contribute to implementation:
  • Administrative staff at Department: Set time for start-up meeting
  • Personnel responsible and discipline leader: Conduct the meeting

4. Implement mentors for post doctors according to IEs mentoring guidelines

• Responsible: Head of Department (strategic decision for implementation)

5. Make sure that each postdoctoral fellow develops a career plan

• Responsible: Head of department (strategic decision for implementation)
• Contribute to implementation: Postdoctoral fellow and discipline leader.
• Tools available: Career plan and post doc employe dialogue

6. Ensure that postdoctoral fellows have the opportunity for career-promoting work in accordance with NTNU's guidelines for recruitment positions

• Responsible: Head of department (strategic decision for implementation) and discipline leader.

7. Implement courses or network seminars within these areas

• Responsible: Vice dean of research
• Contribute to implementation: HR-section and F&I-section

Relevant links

Background material for this action plan

• NTNU’s post doctor action plan (from 2017)
• The European Framework for research careers (from 2011)
• The University and University College Act (from 2024)
• NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions (2025)

Being a postdoctoral fellow at IE