Postdoctoral position in Architecture

Chalmers Architecture has a strong profile on sustainability working with central societal challenges in the built environment with explorative and practice-based approaches. The department’s teaching and research in architecture, urbanism and design processes integrate practice-based, artistic and scientific methods to explore the broad aspects of architecture – from building technology, physical design, and spatial structures to design methods, transformation of built environments and its role in sustainable development.

The Department of Architecture has roughly 90 employees. The department has approximately sixty researchers/teachers, twenty doctoral students and ten in the division for administration.

The department include four divisions: Building Design, Urban Design and Planning, Architectural Theory and Method and the Administration.


Information about the research group
The discipline of urban planning and design is facing major knowledge challenges, both in research and practice. In response Chalmers Architecture has launched a new research environment lead by Professor Lars Marcus: the Spatial Morphology Group [SMoG]. SMoG focuses on quantitative analysis of urban form and aims to bridge the quantitative and qualitative strands within urban morphology into a wider field of Spatial Morphology. Central to this is Lars Marcus’ (2010) idea of "spatial capital" and Meta Berkhauser Pont’s benchmarking of urban morphology and density (2010). The group will grow to 7 researchers in 2015 with a strong network of national and international collaborations (e.g. The Bartlett London, University of Technology Delft and KTH Stockholm).

The postdoc project concerns developing and adapting primary models and databases of a selection of European cities for comparative analysis and includes:

• deepening the understanding and measurement of the primary urban form measures distance, density and diversity;
• empirical testing of these measures as well as their interrelation and co-variation;
• identifying spatial typologies and investigate differences and similarities within and between cities.

The ultimate aim is to, together with the other researchers in the group, combine these variables into a generic urban model applicable in a broad series of adjoining thematic projects on social segregation, sustainable markets and ecosystem services.

Major responsibilities
Operational project leader for the development of comparable urban models and databases of a selection of European cities. Coordinator of the cooperation with different European universities. Identify, design and lead sub-projects within the main project. This includes the construction and adaption of GIS-models, testing of new measures, perform spatial and statistical analysis, interpret and present analytical results. It may also include teaching in the new MSc-studio.

Position summary
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of two years (1+1), and expected to begin November 1, 2015.

Qualifications
To qualify for the position of postdoc, you must have a doctoral degree in Architecture or Urban Planning; the degree should generally not be older than three years. You should also have knowledge and practical experience in GIS-analysis, space syntax-analysis and statistical (spatial) analysis.

Knowledge in Swedish is a merit. 

Chalmers continuously strives to be an attractive employer. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20150240 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically via Chalmers webpage.


Application deadline: August 31, 2015

For questions, please contact:
Lars Marcus,
lars.marcus@chalmers.se,
+46 (0)70-9947991

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 
   



Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our eight Areas of Advance; Built Environment, Energy, Information & Communication Technology, Life Science, Materials Science, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!