Shoaib Ahmed is a PhD candidate in the Green Move project from NTNU, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research is conducted in collaboration with NIBIO (Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research), the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Skanska and Pro Invenia, focusing on soil restoration and relocation projects. These partnerships allow him to evaluate and monitor soil restoration on projects such as the Rv3/25 road development in Løten Municipality and soil relocation projects at Rv4 Roa grense and Flakk–Brøset in Trondheim.
PhD topics are often interdisciplinary, requiring input from different fields to address real-world problems effectively. Coming from a civil engineering and geotechnics background, I find it useful to work with professionals from other disciplines to learn, share knowledge, and improve overall understanding.
Working closely with industry provides practical insights and access to relevant data. As Shoaib explains: “This dual role helps me test engineering methods and planning tools in real projects while generating new academic knowledge.”
Why It Matters
Soil is a non-renewable resource, and its loss during construction projects has major implications for food security and environmental sustainability. Shoaib says “My research develops engineering-based solutions and strategies that safeguard agricultural productivity of soil while enabling infrastructure needs”. This balance is at the heart of industrial PhD work: addressing immediate practical challenges while contributing to long-term sustainability goals.
Engaging with Industry and Society
INRESCOS encourages PhD candidates to share research in arenas where academia and industry meet. During Industriuka in Porsgrunn and Kongsberg Agenda (Norway’s leading technology festival) he had the opportunity to present his research. These experiences showed him the importance of making complex topics like soil relocation understandable and relevant to different audiences.
Integration of industry partners
Research projects in collaboration with a company create a valuable opportunity for both academic advancement and industry innovation. When a university hires a PhD candidate to work on such a project, the company’s active involvement becomes essential. By facilitating access to operations, data, and expertise, the company enables the candidate to investigate real-world challenges, ensuring the research is both academically rigorous and highly relevant to industry needs.
Shoaib emphasizes: “Let the PhD go in the field and do the work”
In his case, the collaboration has been very well aligned:
“The work is 100% relevant to my PhD… it cannot be more matched than this.”
However, Shoaib also reflects that building collaboration with industry partners takes time, as it requires developing mutual understanding and trust.
“If this engagement had started earlier, the time spent establishing connections and aligning goals could have been reduced, making the process more effective within the PhD timeframe.”
Working alongside experts helped accelerate his learning and gave him clearer direction in the PhD process. By opening doors and providing meaningful access, companies empower PhD candidates to produce research that contributes directly to solving practical problems.
Support Through INRESCOS
Being part of the INRESCOS network has given him access to structured training and professional development. INRESCOS also funded his participation in the Research in Industrial Context (TE9108) course which modules complement his doctoral work, strengthening his ability to manage industry–research interfaces effectively.
Challenges and Learning
Balancing academic expectations and industry collaboration requires flexibility and clear communication. Each project involves field investigations, soil characterization, and interdisciplinary teamwork. The challenge is to align timelines, reporting formats, and goals between partners, but “I have found this creates a much richer and more applied research environment” he says.
Advice for Future Candidates
For those considering an PhD in collaboration with industry, Shoaib’s advice is to embrace complexity. The dual affiliation requires adaptability, but it offers unique advantages: access to data, networks, and impact opportunities that pure academic pathways may not provide. Building trust with partners, being open to feedback, and grounding research in real-world challenges are key.
Support Through Supervisor
It is important to note that such collaboration would not be possible without the support of supervisors, especially in managing the necessary paperwork and administrative processes. A good relationship with supervisors is important.