PhD in Urban Resilience

The Department of Technology and Innovation (ITI) at the Faculty of Engineering (TEK) at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), invites applications for a position as PhD candidate in Urban Resilience within the UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience (SDU.Resilience), at the Section for Civil and Architectural Engineering (CAE).

The PhD student is a three-years position, with opportunities for further career progression. Specifically, we are looking for a highly motivated and qualified candidate that can support our research on urban resilience, with focus on climate change adaptation and specifically conducting research on the combined challenge of urban floods and droughts, and on integrated urban planning solutions.

The research is part of the research and knowledge transfer activities that SDU.Resilience is conducting in collaboration with UNESCO; particularly contributing to both the delivery of the Strategic Plan for the ninth phase of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP-IX), and the work of the Disaster Risk Reduction Unit.

Research environment
SDU.Resilience is an expanding research team coordinated by Professor WSR on Urban Resilience Nicola Tollin, conducting transdisciplinary research, education and knowledge transfer activities on urban resilience at international level, with a strong network of academic and inter-governmental organizations partners worldwide.

SDU.Resilience investigates urban resilient transition, addressing systemically the causes and effects of climate change in cities, including climate change adaptation and mitigation, and other related major urban challenges: urbanization, pandemics and disaster risk reduction, in the wider frame of sustainable development.

Our research aims at informing and supporting policymaking at international and national level, and science-based urban planning and design for local action, both in the Global North and South.

SDU.Resilience specific knowledge areas include:

• Climate Change Governance
• Human Health and Climate
• Water and Human Settlements
• Circular Economy and Built Environment
• Capacity Building for Climate Action
• Coastal and Maritime Planning
• Green Infrastructures and Nature Based Solutions

Work Environment
SDU.Resilience is based at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense. We offer an inclusive, international and interdisciplinary working environment, with strong international collaborations. Our ambition is to recruit, develop and retain talented researcher committed to academic and professional excellence and the development of the research group and the department.

Duties and responsibilities
The postholder will contribute to further develop and expand research, education and knowledge transfer activities across the SDU.Resilience knowledge areas, with specific focus on planning for climate change adaptation in face of floods and droughts in urban areas.

Specific duties and responsibility of the PhD include to:

• Conduct research on planning for climate change adaptation in face of floods and droughts in urban areas.
• Publish research outcomes in high quality scientific journals, reports and books;
• Maintain and expand the collaboration with SDU.Resilience’s partner organizations internationally;
• Contribute on knowledge transfer on the research topic, particularly within UNESCO;
• Contribute to the delivery courses at BSc and MSc level;
• Work collaboratively with peers across the faculty and the university.

Skills and qualifications
The candidate must have a MSc degree in urban resilience, urban planning, climate change, architecture, engineering or related areas. Transdisciplinary education pathways are highly appreciated.

The candidate shall demonstrate:

• Research and publication record on urban resilience, commensurate with the experience.
• International studding and working experience, particularly in transdisciplinary and multi-cultural environments.
• Work experience in the Global South, particularly in a developing context, is an asset.
• Knowledge of other languages, particularly Spanish and French, is an asset.
• Experience of work and/or collaboration with international organizations, is desirable.

The position is open now and the preferred start date is as soon as possible, no later than March 1st, 2023.

Further information about the position is available from Nicola Tollin, Professor wsr in Urban Resilience, tel. +45 93 50 74 70, email: [email protected], cc: [email protected]

Conditions of employment
Applicants are required to have a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish master's degree) at the time of enrollment and employment. Employment as a PhD fellow is a 3-year salaried position (start salary amounts to approx. 3.378,- EURO per month incl. supplements).

Employment of a PhD fellow can only happen after the Head of the PhD School has approved the candidate for admission to the PhD school. Employment and enrollment will cease without further notice at the end of the period.

A PhD fellow is not allowed to have any kind of sideline employment, while enrolled as PhD fellow at the faculty.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Please check links for more information on salary and taxation.

Salary: https://www.SDU.dk/en/om_SDU/international_staff/on+arrival/salary/salary+rates

Taxation: https://www.SDU.dk/en/om_SDU/international_staff/on+arrival/taxation

Application procedure
The application must be in English and include:

• Completed TEK PhD application form for 5+3 applicants. Find the form at the Faculty website.
• Motivation letter, including motivations, skills and qualifications
• A short research proposal: title, state of the art, aim/objective, methodology, work plan, outcome, bibliography (maximum three pages including references)
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae, describing research, publication and teaching experience, computational skills and including personal contact information.
• Verified copies of the official bachelor diploma and master's diploma and transcripts of exams, both the original documents and in professional English translation.
• Completed TEK PhD form for calculation grade point average. Find the form at the Faculty website. Upload in one of the fields called “Publication”.
• An official document describing the grading scheme of the awarding universities (if not Danish). Upload in one of the fields called “Publication”.
• An official and verified written assessment of the thesis or dissertation project from the grade giving institution, if the thesis/examination project is evaluated by approved/passed. The statement must clearly state that the candidate has been among the top 30 pct. in the graduation class for the study programme.
• List of publications indicating the publications attached.
• Examples of the most relevant publications. Please attach one pdf-file for each publication.
• Two reference letters.
• Other relevant qualifications and/or documents may also be included.

All non-Danish documents must be translated into English.

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply online". Uploaded files must be in Adobe PDF (unlocked) Word format. Each field can only contain a single file of max. 10 Mb.

Late, incomplete applications or applications not submitted through the online system will not be considered.

The Faculty expects applicants to read the Faculty information for prospective PhD students and the SDU information on How to apply before applying.

If you experience technical problems, you must contact [email protected].

The assessment process
Read about the Assessment and selection process. Shortlisting may be used.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Application deadline: January 19, 2023

Additional information
Faculty of Engineering: https://www.SDU.dk/en/om_SDU/fakulteterne/teknik

Section for Civil and Architectural Engineering: https://www.SDU.dk/en/forskning/SDUcivilengineering

Urban Resilience Research Group: https://www.SDU.dk/en/forskning/SDUcivilengineering/research/urban+resilience

International Urban Resilience Academy: https://www.SDU.dk/en/iura