PhD fellowship in Landscape Architecture and Planning

PhD Project in Regional planning and climate adaptation
Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
Faculty of SCIENCE
University of Copenhagen

Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Section of Landscape Architecture and Planning invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in Regional planning and climate adapatation. The project is part of the research project “Region4Climate”, which is financed by EU’s research initiative Horizon Europe. 

Start date is (expected to be) 1 July  2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project
Water is an element which both unites and separates. Water bodies connect shores, link landscapes and act as pathways, while simultaneously separating regions, ecosystems, and places as perceived by humans. At a time where historically unsustainable resource use and management practices are causing climate change leading to frequent extreme weather conditions, water is also an element that receives great attention and is subject to intense public debate. 

Current challenges related to water-oriented climate change adaptation require approaches, such as coastal protection, comprehensive river basin management or ecosystem restoration, that trespass traditional local, municipal, and sectoral boundaries. 

In the past decades, regional planning has shifted character due to significant rescaling processes in many European countries. Municipalities collaborate in diverse settings to compensate for the missing regional level in some countries. Furthermore, regional cross-sectoral planning strategies are at present constrained by knowledge deficits and uncertainties, as well as science-policy-stakeholder gaps. 

The project will address research questions related to regional planning approaches and framing and implementing regional climate change adaptation. The PhD project will, on the basis of Danish and European cases from the Regions4Climate project, study regional planning approaches addressing water related climate adaptation. 

The candidate will also be expected to contribute to several tasks of Regions4Climate.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of landscape and regional planning. Applicants may have a background from landscape or spatial planning, geography, nature management, climate adaptation, governance or similar.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?
The PhD student will be part of the research group “Spatial Change and Planning”. The group aims to provide an integrated understanding of the urban-rural continuum, comprising cities, peri-urban areas and rural districts. Research conducted in the group build on and integrate perspectives from a broad range of disciplines spanning the social, human and natural sciences, including fields such as design research, geography, planning studies, landscape ecology and landscape science. Human’s use and perception of urban and rural landscapes, understanding of places, and place-making play a prominent role in our research. Read more on (https://ign.ku.dk/english/research/landscape-architecture-planning/spatial-change-planning ).
The group is a part of the Section of Landscape Architecture and Planning, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. 

Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Christian Fertner, IGN, E-mail: [email protected] , Direct Phone: +45 35331782

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. landscape architecture, urban/spatial planning, geography, nature management . For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database . 

Terms of employment in the regular programme 
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years. 

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant. 

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure. 

Responsibilities and tasks 
•    Carry through an independent research project under supervision
•    Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
•    Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
•    Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
•    Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
•    Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:
•    Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
•    Relevant publications
•    Relevant work experience
•    Other relevant professional activities
•    Curious mind-set with a strong interest in comprehensive planning and management with a regional approach
•    Good written and oral language skills

Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below. 

Please include:  
1.    Motivated letter of application (max. one page) including reflection on how to work with the topic.
2.    Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3.    Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
4.    Publication list (if possible)
5.    Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline: 
The deadline for applications is 1 March 2023, 23:59 GMT +1.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process 
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.
The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process /. 

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 15.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.
General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd /.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. 

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.