PhD candidate in landscape planning with a focus on digital twins

Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management
The Department of landscape architecture, planning and management is part of the Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Crop Production Sciences (LTV). The department is organised in four subject areas: Design of urban landscapes, Landscape planning, Landscape governance and management and Urban vegetation. The multidisciplinary research environment entails research from humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, design and engineering perspectives. The department consists of approximately 85 employees active in education and/or research and development.

This doctoral announcement is part of the faculty's investment in 10 doctoral students in 2024.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Land-use planning through digital twins? Exploring emergent forms of land-use planning in the digital transformation
Research subject: Landscape architecture with specialization in landscape planning
Description:
Are you interested in exploring land-use planning within the context of digital transformation and wish to study the ways in which new technologies and the use of data intersect with, and potentially transform planning practices? We are seeking a motivated PhD candidate ready to embark on research centered on what forms of land-use planning are emerging through digital twins. A digital twin is a digital model of a physical area that can be used for virtually simulating different scenarios for land-use development and monitoring their performance  (i.e., a virtual testbed or urban lab) and a tool for managing land-use related operations in, so-called, “near real time“. As a PhD candidate, you will have the unique opportunity to pursue social scientific inquiry of these processes of change to fully interrogate their consequences for land-use planning- for the planning profession as well as for planning at large. The supervisory group is a multi-disciplinary team consisting of senior researchers in land-use planning, political science and spatial data science.

As a PhD candidate, you will devote yourself to your research studies, publish results in international scientific journals and take third cycle courses. The research includes tasks such as pursuing literature reviews, developing conceptual frameworks and carrying out empirical work.

Qualifications:
Requirements:


• Master’s degree in a relevant subject to the proposed research project
• At least 240 ETCS in landscape planning and related fields, from which minimum of 60 ECTS are at an advanced level.
• Documented excellent analytical and writing skills
• Full proficiency in Swedish and English

Merits:


• Documented knowledge and skills relevant to the subject of study, including planning knowledge, digital tools and the use of data in planning
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboration within a team
• Proficiency in formulating research problems, objectives, and questions
• Documented experience in relevant research methodologies
• Documented experience of (co-)authoring academic publications

Applicants should provide contact details to references on request.

Place of work:      
Alnarp

Forms for funding or employment:
Employment (4 years)

Starting date:
According to agreement.

Application:
Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2024-06-03.

To qualify for third-cycle (Doctoral) courses and study programmes, you must have a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification. Alternatively, you must have conducted a minimum of four years of full-time study, of which a minimum of one year at second-cycle level.

Applicants will be selected based on their written application and CV, degree project, copies of their degree certificate and transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution, two personal references, and knowledge of English. More information about the English language requirements can be found here: www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/new-doctoral-students/english-language-requirements/

Please note that applicants invited to interview must submit attested copies of their degree certificate, or equivalent, a transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution. Applicants who are not Swedish citizens need to submit an attested copy of their passport’s information page containing their photograph and personal details.

Read about the PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/

Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/


The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden.

SLU has around 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 3 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.