PhD student position in Digitalisation for Community Development

Do you like the combination of architecture, participatory planning, software development and UX design? This PhD project aims to empower Swedish rural communities through the development of tools and methods that favour collaborative economy and local self-sufficiency. You will work with with case studies in the Västra Götaland Region and an important part of the project is to develop a local digital infrastructure that lets the community collect, own and act on its own data, to enable locally led transformation processes.

Information about the division
The PhD project is part of the project “Facilitating a new rurality beyond GDP through a Community Operating System”, funded by Formas. You will be part of the Division of Urban Design and Planning, in which we address urban design and planning in all scales and all types of settlements, from single urban spaces to the urban landscape and entire regions. Our main focus in both research and education is on how the built environment can support sustainable development. As cities and regions today face economic, social and ecological challenges - such as climate change, competition for land, increasing regional imbalance, segregation and gentrification - we develop theories, methods and tools with the aim to make a difference.

Major responsibilities
As a PhD student your main responsibility is to pursue your doctoral studies, which includes to work with the research project and to undertake doctoral courses. You are expected to plan and organise your research with support from your supervisor, to work independently as well as in close collaboration with other project group members and external partners (local communities), to share results in a popular science format - preferably in Swedish through eg. social media, and to communicate scientific results, both orally and in written form, in English.

Qualifications
To qualify for the PhD position you must have a Master's Degree in Architecture or Spatial Planning and also have provable skills in terms of software development for web and mobile apps and UX design. You should also have experience in community development related to self-organized and/or intentional communities. International experiences are a merit and also knowledge of the local context where the research will take place (Västra Götaland). Excellent oral and written skills in English are a requirement. Swedish is not a requirement but a merit, due to the interaction with local stakeholders in the Västra Götaland region.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
To apply, please go to: https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/Working-at-Chalmers/Vacancies/Pages/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=10330


Application deadline: 29 April 2022.