PhD student position in sustainable building design

Chalmers is the oldest School of Architecture in Sweden and the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering ranks high internationally. This projects offers an inter-disciplinary environment where you will benefit from expertise in additional subjects and knowledge areas and courses within a national research school for energy systems.

Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the dynamic city of Gothenburg. Chalmers continuously strives to be an attractive employer. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Project description
This position will enroll as part of the inter-disciplinary research project "Socio-technical ecology: Energy systems in urban areas with high sustainability profile". The project is part of the national inter-disciplinary doctoral school Energy Systems, phase 2. The vision of the programme is that sustainable energy systems are designed by individuals based on holistic perspectives and inter-disciplinary expert knowledge. These individuals will contribute to sustainable changes within the industry, public sector, academy and the civic society. This specific research project takes a critical perspective to the planning and development of the energy systems in three Swedish neighbourhoods with high ambitions for sustainability. The project is a collaboration with Lund University, the Faculty of Engineering, Division of Efficient Energy Systems, and Linköpings University, the Department of Thematic Studies. Two more doctoral candidates will be recruited within the project, at Lund University and Linköpings University respectively. The three doctoral students will collaborate in research and empirical studies from their respective perspectives.

The sub-project at Chalmers will focus on the building level and the professional actors involved in the building design process, mainly carried out as case studies involving different methods for data collection and analysis. The building level connects the larger system level with the energy system and infrastructures with the scale of people, services and the daily life in the neighbourhood. Central questions concern the interplay between the objectives for sustainable energy systems and other objectives for a sustainable built environment (resource efficiency, livable cities, good housing, social integration), and the scope for action among the professional actors to reach sustainable results.

The project is carried out in an academic inter-disciplinary setting and in collaboration with organisations outside the academic, such as energy suppliers, property owners and municipalities. The academic inter-disciplinary collaboration involves, apart from the common research project, participation in courses in the national research school for energy systems which mainly will be carried out at other Universities in Sweden.

You will belong to the division of Building design at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering. Staff at the division teaches and conducts research about design and planning for design with a special focus on design for health care, housing design and sustainability. The division is the host for two centers, the Center for Health Care Architecture (CVA) and the Center for Housing Architecture (CBA).

Major responsibilities
As a PhD student your main responsibility is to pursue your own doctoral studies, which includes work in the research project and to undertake doctoral courses. You are expected to plan and organise your research, to work independently as well as in close collaboration with other group members and partners, and to communicate scientific results, both orally and in written form, in English and Swedish.

Contract terms
You are expected to complete a PhD degree in 4 years. The position can be extended to a maximum of 5 years depending on engagement in academic/teaching activities (<20%).

The position as a PhD student at Chalmers University of Technology is a full-time temporary employment, with a competitive monthly salary and full social benefits. There are no tuition fees for PhD studies 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=8698


Application deadline: 1 September, 2020