Call for proposals to build interdisciplinary teams within NTNU Community 

We are looking for researchers who want to join in building and leading interdisciplinary teams within NTNU Community. 

Deadline for applications: 10.02.2025

NTNU Community will establish eight to nine interdisciplinary teams that will operate under an overarching theme. The teams will be led by a coordinating group of three representing three different disciplines in (at least) two different faculties/the University Museum at NTNU. The coordinating group can develop and initiate their own research projects related to the team's theme, and at the same time help to include more researchers who can expand the research activity in the team. The goal of the teams is to mobilize broadly among researchers at NTNU to develop and disseminate knowledge about complex societal challenges relevant to NTNU Community, in close collaboration with external actors. 

The teams for NTNU Community will receive: 

• 200,000 NOK in basic support for activities in the team over 2 years (100,000 NOK per year). This will, for example, help to fund workshops or other events (invitation of external speakers, travel costs, refreshments etc.), support for writing applications, travel, participation in conferences, dissemination of research results, etc. 
• The teams will be prioritized in connection with announcements of PhD and postdoctoral positions allocated to NTNU Community. 
• The teams can also apply for additional funding from NTNU Community for their activities. 
• Assistance from the coordinator of NTNU Community for implementing events, activities, applications, finding relevant calls, etc. 
• Help to build competence to communicate and make the research activity in the team visible, for example media support, writing of chronicles, preparing presentations at external events. 

The teams will be funded for two years and will then be evaluated. It may be that the evaluation reveals that a team should be merged with another team, or that a team should be divided into two or three. If a team is inactive, we will consider to close down the team or taking measures to start activity.

Mandate for the teams 

• Develop a two-year plan that includes goals for the team, activities and expected results. 
• Coordinate the various team activities, such as research seminars, networking activities with external stakeholders, application work, various dissemination activities, etc. 
• Manage the 200,000 NOK in basic support for the team 
• Mobilize researchers across disciplines and faculties 
• Develop interdisciplinary research ideas, frameworks and methods that can provide a basis for joint research activities in the team 
• Coordinate with other teams and the leadership group of NTNU Fellesskap 
• Be part of the broader societal debate 

Who are we looking for 

A prerequisite for being part of a coordination group is a strong interest in interdisciplinary research. We look for a coordination group consisting of three researchers from three different disciplines representing at least two different faculties/the University Museum. The coordination group must together: 

• have experience with interdisciplinary research 
• have experience in applying for external funding 
• have experience in communicating research results in both scientific and popular channels 
• be motivated to include other researchers in the Team, even if this goes outside their own research area 
• be interested in carrying out research projects in collaboration with various societal actors (public institutions, voluntary actors, businesses, civil society actors, etc.) and other research institutions. 

The group must choose one leader who is in a permanent scientific position at NTNU. It is positive if the coordination group consists of both researchers who are early in their research careers as well as more established researchers, and the team can also consist of researchers from several of NTNU's campuses. Although research is the main focus of NTNU Community, it is positive if students are connected to the activity in the teams (for example through BA or MA theses).

About the application 

• Describe which team the group wants to coordinate (see below) 
• Who is in the team, affiliation at NTNU (department and faculty) 
• Say who will lead the coordination group and describe how you envision the group to work 
• Describe the goals of the team, which sub-themes you envision developing/including, which specific activities you plan to carry out. Give a rough estimate of how the coordination group envisions spending 200,000 NOK over two years. Funding of salary compensation ("frikjøp") for scientific staff can not be included, while funding for research assistants can be a part of the budget. 
• Feel free to mention an ongoing or recently completed project that members of the coordination group have been part of that is relevant to this team. 
• Describe different networks/collaborators that may be relevant to the team. 
• Describe how the team as a whole is in line with the criteria 

Interdisciplinary teams 

Our proposal for teams is based on input from several sources: Input from group discussions at four workshops in September-October 2024 where a total of 140 researchers from NTNU participated, the report from the working group that led to the establishment of the strategic research area Community, and signals from national and international key actors who are involved in defining the research agenda relevant to NTNU Community. 

The short text under each team is intended as a ‘teaser’ indicating key issues and knowledge needs. At the same time, we emphasize that the teams can and should explore research topics and perspectives that are not mentioned in the short text. An important task for the coordination group will be to include many researchers with different ideas for projects that can help expand the research activity in the team. 

Three perspectives are overarching for all of NTNU's strategic research areas and thus also cross-cutting for all Teams under NTNU Community: Sustainability, Global Perspectives, Digital.

Use this template to apply:  

 
•  
• Norsk Mal
• English template 

Apply here 

8 interdisciplinary teams

Team Democratic Resilience / Team Demokratisk motstandskraft 

What threatens democracy and trust in society? How can we build trust and contribute to resilience? Why are authoritarian movements developing and what are the reasons behind polarization? There is a need for a deeper understanding of constructive and destructive communities, and for knowledge about how new technology such as AI can be developed in a way that is inclusive and democratic.

Team Housing and Community Development / Team Bolig og stedsutvikling 

More knowledge about how we develop cities and towns as well as rural communities is needed to achieve goals for reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reducing exclusion and inequality and securing quality of life. Key aspects of everybody’s life is housing, how we move around and how our surroundings affect us.

Team Just Transition / Team Rettferdig omstilling 

How do people, society and nature adapt to climate change and how can transition  be fair way both in a locally and global context? The team will shed light on both climate crisis, the nature crisis and what a fair green transition can entail.

Team Childhood and Youth / Team Barndom og ungdom 

 Exclusion of young people in society is a major challenge and has significant costs for the individual and for society. Exclusion among young adults often has its roots in childhood and adolescence, and there is a need for knowledge to find solutions that both prevent exclusion and address how we can work for an inclusive society

Team A sustainable welfare society / Et bærekraftig velferdssamfunn 

The team will investigate new ways of organizing our welfare systems and services in a time  of changing economic conditions and demographic shifts. What kind of expectations do we have for individual and collective rights and obligations, and what do we expect our welfare services to deliver to the population? The potential that new technologies represent for the required transformation of the welfare state is an important focus for the team.

Team Art / Team Kunst 

Artistic perspectives and methods can be included in all Teams under NTNU Community. At the same time, we want to build a team that specifically explores interdisciplinary artistic perspectives and methodologies and looks at the role of art in society in/for different communities.

Team Identity, Cultural Heritage and a Multicultural Society / Team Identitet, kulturarv og et flerkulturelt samfunn 

Increased migration, global cultural exchange and globalization in general contribute to a renewed focus on identity and shared cultural heritage. At the same time, a more diverse society represents an opportunity for hybrid identities and cultures. The team will focus both on Norway as a multicultural society and Norway's place in the world.

Team Aging / Team Aldring 

Norway and large parts of the world have an aging population. How does this affect society and our communities? How can the increasing proportion of older people be mobilized as a resource for the community, while ensuring a dignified life for people retired from work-life?

A ninth team?: 

It is possible to propose a ninth team if there is a central theme that cannot be placed under one of the proposed teams. We emphasize that the proposed teams are intended to accommodate a wide range of issues and we encourage coordinating groups to consider whether the theme they are concerned with can be explored within the already proposed structure.

Previous annoncements

See results from previous annoncements.