Vocal Biomarkers Scholarship 2026 in Norway | Fully Funded PhD

The Vocal Biomarkers Scholarship 2026 in Norway is a fully funded PhD opportunity at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for candidates interested in acoustics, voice analysis, signal processing, physical modelling, and healthcare technology.

Officially advertised as a PhD Candidate in Vocal Biomarkers: Acoustics of the Voice for Health Applications, the position will allow the selected researcher to investigate how measurable characteristics of the human voice can potentially be used as non-invasive indicators of health.

The PhD position is based at NTNU’s Department of Electronic Systems in Trondheim, Norway. The successful candidate will receive a normal gross annual salary of NOK 550,800, depending on qualifications and seniority.

The application deadline is September 1, 2026.

This opportunity can be particularly attractive for international graduates in acoustics, physics, mathematics, signal processing, engineering, computer science, and other relevant quantitative disciplines who want to pursue a fully funded PhD in Norway.

Vocal Biomarkers Scholarship 2026 Overview

Category	Details
Host University	Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Country	Norway
Location	Trondheim
Position	PhD Candidate in Vocal Biomarkers
Study Level	PhD
Department	Department of Electronic Systems
Research Group	Acoustics Group
Research Area	Vocal Biomarkers, Acoustics and Health Applications
Funding Type	Fully Funded / Paid PhD Employment
Annual Salary	NOK 550,800 gross
Duration	3 years + up to 1 additional year
Language	English
Application Platform	Jobbnorge
Job Reference	305436
Deadline	September 1, 2026

What is the Vocal Biomarkers PhD Project?

Vocal biomarkers are measurable characteristics or patterns found in a person’s voice that may provide information about their physiological or health condition.

Human voice production depends on a complex interaction between the respiratory system, vocal folds, vocal tract, nervous system, and other physiological processes. Changes affecting these systems can sometimes produce measurable differences in speech and voice.

The NTNU Vocal Biomarkers PhD project seeks to understand these relationships more systematically.

The selected PhD candidate will work at the intersection of:

• acoustics;
• speech and voice signal processing;
• physical modelling;
• numerical modelling;
• physiology;
• biomedical applications; and
• digital health.

A major objective of the research is to develop methods that are not only accurate but also interpretable and transferable across different speakers, recording environments, and clinical situations.

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Research Focus of the NTNU Vocal Biomarkers PhD

The research will focus on understanding how acoustic information contained in speech and voice can potentially contribute to health monitoring and assessment.

The successful candidate is expected to work with voice and speech signals for health applications and investigate relationships between acoustic features and the physical processes responsible for producing them.

Research activities may include:

• recording voice and speech signals;
• analysing acoustic characteristics;
• processing speech and voice data;
• developing physical models of voice production;
• creating numerical models and simulations;
• investigating vocal-tract characteristics;
• connecting acoustic measurements with physiology and physics;
• publishing research in international journals; and
• presenting findings at scientific conferences.

The project therefore combines theoretical research with computational and experimental work.

Why Are Vocal Biomarkers Important?

Voice is relatively easy to record and can potentially provide health-related information without requiring invasive medical procedures.

Researchers worldwide are studying whether changes in characteristics such as pitch, rhythm, articulation, intensity, resonance, and other acoustic parameters can be associated with physiological or neurological changes.

One frequently studied example is Parkinson’s disease, where changes in voice production may occur as the disease affects motor control.

The objective of the NTNU project is not simply to develop another black-box prediction system. Instead, the research places particular importance on developing approaches that can be interpreted scientifically and transferred between different speakers and conditions.

This makes the project especially relevant to the growing fields of digital health, biomedical signal processing and voice-based health technologies.

Vocal Biomarkers Scholarship 2026 Benefits

Unlike many conventional scholarships that provide only tuition coverage or a monthly stipend, this opportunity is offered as an NTNU PhD employment position.

1. Annual Salary

The successful PhD candidate will normally receive a gross salary of NOK 550,800 per year, depending on qualifications and seniority.

A statutory 2% contribution to the Norwegian State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

2. Fully Funded PhD Position

Because the successful applicant is employed as a PhD candidate, they can pursue doctoral research without paying for the opportunity as a traditional self-funded doctoral student.

3. Three-Year Employment

The normal employment period is three years.

4. Possible Additional Year

The position can include up to one additional year for career-promoting work within the Acoustics group at the Department of Electronic Systems.

5. Research Funding

NTNU provides working capital that can be used for carrying out the doctoral research project.

6. Career Guidance

The candidate will have access to career guidance and professional follow-up throughout the PhD period.

7. Mentor Programme

New employees at NTNU can participate in a mentoring programme designed to help them integrate into the university’s academic and professional environment.

8. Pension Benefits

The candidate receives favourable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK).

9. International Research Environment

The researcher will work in an international and interdisciplinary environment connecting areas such as acoustics, physical modelling, voice research and health.

Who Can Apply for the Vocal Biomarkers Scholarship 2026?

Applicants should have a strong academic and quantitative background relevant to the project.

Suitable academic disciplines may include:

• Acoustics
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Signal Processing
• Electrical Engineering
• Electronic Engineering
• Computer Science
• Applied Mathematics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Audio Technology
• Speech Technology
• Computational Science

Candidates from other related disciplines may also be considered if their previous education provides the required scientific and technical background.

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Academic Eligibility Requirements

Applicants normally need a relevant Master’s degree. The education must meet the academic requirements associated with admission to NTNU’s PhD programme.

Applicants who are completing their Master’s degree may also be considered, provided they complete and document the degree before beginning the PhD position.

The applicant’s academic background should normally correspond to a Norwegian five-year higher-education programme, including an appropriate Master’s-level component.

Strong academic performance is important. Candidates are normally expected to have academic results equivalent to grade B or better on NTNU’s grading scale.

Programming Requirements

Programming ability is highly relevant because much of the research involves signal analysis, simulations, mathematical modelling and computational processing.

Experience with the following is particularly useful:

• Python
• MATLAB

Applicants should highlight programming projects, numerical modelling experience, signal-processing assignments or research code in their CV and motivation letter.

English Language Requirement

Applicants must have good written and spoken English skills.

Because the research environment is international and doctoral research involves academic publications, presentations and collaboration, candidates must be able to communicate effectively in English.

Preferred Qualifications

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not automatically guarantee selection. Applicants may strengthen their applications by demonstrating experience in areas closely connected to the project.

Preferred experience includes:

Acoustics

Knowledge of sound, wave propagation, audio analysis or related acoustic principles can be particularly valuable.

Speech or Voice Signal Processing

Experience analysing speech recordings, extracting acoustic features or processing audio signals is highly relevant.

Physical Modelling

Applicants who have worked with mathematical representations of physical systems may have an advantage.

Numerical Simulation

Experience developing or implementing computational simulations can strengthen an application.

Finite-Element Modelling

Familiarity with finite-element methods can be valuable for modelling physical aspects of voice production.

Vocal-Tract or Voice-Production Models

Candidates who have previously studied speech production, vocal tracts or biomechanical voice models may be particularly well suited.

Biomedical or Healthcare Applications

Research or professional experience applying technology to medicine or healthcare may also be beneficial.

Clinical Data

Candidates who have experience processing clinical datasets or collaborating with medical researchers should clearly mention this experience.

Personal Qualities NTNU is Looking For

Technical qualifications are only one part of the assessment.

A successful PhD candidate should also demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research over several years.

Important qualities include:

• curiosity;
• strong motivation for the research topic;
• ability to work independently;
• structured working habits;
• problem-solving ability;
• creativity;
• good communication skills;
• collaborative attitude; and
• flexibility when research plans need adjustment.

Applicants should demonstrate these qualities through examples from previous research, academic projects, employment or their Master’s thesis.

NTNU PhD Admission Requirement

An important condition of the position is that the successful candidate must obtain admission to the relevant NTNU PhD programme in Electronics and Telecommunications.

The candidate is required to obtain admission within three months of the employment contract start date and participate in an organised doctoral programme throughout the employment period.

Therefore, applicants should carefully review both the job requirements and NTNU’s academic PhD admission requirements.

Required Documents for Vocal Biomarkers Scholarship 2026

Applicants should prepare their documents carefully before beginning the online application.

The application may include:

• CV;
• motivation letter;
• Bachelor’s degree diploma;
• Bachelor’s academic transcripts;
• Master’s degree diploma;
• Master’s academic transcripts;
• Master’s thesis;
• relevant certificates;
• publications, if available;
• documentation of other research work; and
• contact information for referees.

Applicants who obtained all or part of their education outside Norway may also need to provide additional documentation describing the scope and academic quality of their education.

Where available, applicants should attach a Diploma Supplement.

If an applicant already has a relevant recognition statement from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), this may also be included.

Motivation Letter

The motivation letter is one of the most important parts of the application because it helps the selection committee understand how the applicant’s previous experience matches the project.

Rather than writing a generic scholarship letter, applicants should specifically discuss their connection to:

• acoustics;
• signal processing;
• voice or speech analysis;
• mathematical modelling;
• physics;
• numerical simulation;
• programming;
• biomedical applications; or
• health-related research.

Applicants should also explain why they are interested in vocal biomarkers and acoustics for health applications.

A strong motivation letter should connect previous academic experience directly to the proposed research instead of simply stating that the applicant wants to study in Norway.

How to Apply for Vocal Biomarkers Scholarship 2026

Applications must be submitted electronically through the official Jobbnorge recruitment portal.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Check Your Academic Eligibility

Confirm that you possess or will obtain a relevant Master’s degree and that your academic background meets NTNU’s PhD requirements.

Step 2: Update Your Academic CV

Your CV should clearly highlight research experience, programming skills, publications, software knowledge and relevant technical projects.

Step 3: Prepare Your Motivation Letter

Explain your research interests and demonstrate how your academic experience relates to vocal biomarkers, acoustics, signal processing, physical modelling or health applications.

Step 4: Collect Academic Documents

Prepare your Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas, transcripts, Master’s thesis and any required documentation relating to international qualifications.

Step 5: Add Research Evidence

Attach publications, conference papers, research projects or other relevant scientific work where applicable.

Step 6: Prepare Referee Information

Provide details of relevant academic or professional referees as requested in the application.

Step 7: Submit Through Jobbnorge

Search for Job ID 305436 – PhD Candidate in Vocal Biomarkers: Acoustics of the Voice for Health Applications on Jobbnorge and complete the online application.

Step 8: Apply Before the Deadline

Submit all documents before September 1, 2026.

Applicants should avoid waiting until the final hours in case additional documents or corrections are required.

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the Vocal Biomarkers Scholarship 2026 in Norway is September 1, 2026.

Applications submitted after the official closing date may not be considered.

About NTNU

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is one of Norway’s major research universities and has a particularly strong technical and scientific profile.

The university operates in several Norwegian cities, with its main headquarters in Trondheim.

The Vocal Biomarkers PhD position is located within the Department of Electronic Systems and its Acoustics research environment.

The successful candidate will also become part of an interdisciplinary research environment connecting researchers working in areas such as acoustics, physical modelling, voice and health.

Why Study a PhD in Norway?

Norway has a distinctive doctoral education system in which many PhD researchers are hired as university employees rather than treated solely as students receiving conventional scholarships.

For international researchers, this can provide several advantages, including:

• salaried doctoral employment;
• access to university employee benefits;
• strong research infrastructure;
• international academic collaboration;
• structured doctoral training; and
• professional research experience while completing the PhD.

This NTNU opportunity is therefore especially attractive for applicants searching for a fully funded PhD in Norway 2026.

Is the Vocal Biomarkers Scholarship Fully Funded?

Yes. The opportunity is commonly described as a fully funded PhD because the selected researcher is employed by NTNU and receives a salary.

It is more accurate, however, to describe it as a paid PhD employment position rather than a traditional scholarship.

The normal gross salary is NOK 550,800 annually, subject to qualifications, seniority and applicable statutory deductions.

Can International Students Apply?

The vacancy is suitable for qualified international applicants who meet NTNU’s educational, academic, English-language and research requirements.

Applicants with degrees obtained outside Norway should pay particular attention to the documentation requirements for international qualifications.

Can Computer Science Graduates Apply?

Potentially, yes.

Computer science graduates may be competitive if their academic background is relevant to the research project, particularly if they have experience in:

• digital signal processing;
• audio processing;
• machine learning;
• scientific computing;
• numerical modelling;
• Python;
• MATLAB;
• biomedical data; or
• speech technologies.

Because the research has a strong physical and acoustic component, applicants should demonstrate sufficient mathematics, physics or modelling knowledge rather than relying only on general software-development experience.

Can Final-Year Master’s Students Apply?

Applicants who are completing a Master’s degree may be considered if they can successfully complete and document the degree before beginning the PhD position.

Applicants should provide the available academic documentation and clearly state the expected Master’s completion date.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can improve their chances by tailoring every major application document to this specific research project.

Avoid sending a generic CV and generic scholarship motivation letter.

Instead:

• highlight signal-processing coursework;
• mention acoustics or audio projects;
• describe Python and MATLAB experience;
• explain mathematical or physical modelling projects;
• link the Master’s thesis to the PhD topic where possible;
• mention publications and conference presentations;
• quantify research achievements;
• demonstrate interest in health technology; and
• explain why interpretable vocal biomarkers interest you.

Candidates should also read the vacancy description carefully and use relevant terminology naturally throughout their CV and motivation letter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The Vocal Biomarkers Scholarship 2026 in Norway is a fully funded PhD opportunity at NTNU for candidates with backgrounds in acoustics, signal processing, physics, mathematics, computer science, and related fields. The selected candidate will receive a gross annual salary of NOK 550,800 and work on voice-based health research in Trondheim. The application deadline is September 1, 2026.