PhD student in Architecture with a focus on Biobased Building Materials

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.

The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.

Umeå School of Architecture (UMA) is looking for a PhD student in Architecture with a focus on Biobased Building Materials. The application deadline is 28 April, 2024. 

Today most of the building materials used in the construction industry still originate from non-renewable resources and plenty of work is needed to advance circularity globally. Industrial and urban solid waste recycling and reuse has emerged as an alternative resource to produce minimal impact building materials for construction and has become a critical research topic in the last decades. In this context, our goal is to develop hybrid frameworks integrating architectural design and material studies to create both structural and non-structural building components made with biobased waste sourced from urban or industrial streams as main resources. 

The research project “Biobased Building Materials: Enhancing Circular Economy in the Swedish Construction Industry” is part of the Digital Materials Research group at Umeå School of Architecture. Comprising a team of researchers in architecture investigating new, traditional, and waste materials for innovative building applications and our experience cover biobased waste including paper, cardboard, and sawdust, as well as emerging smart materials such as bistables. 

As a PhD student, you will explore how biobased residues can be transformed into smart applications for building envelopes. Utilizing computational design tools you will create, simulate, and evaluate material performance. Our interdisciplinary approach involves both digital and analogue fabrication techniques to prototype building parts. Collaborating with various departments at Umeå University, you will analyze diverse material properties, including mechanical strength, load-bearing capacity, thermal insulation, and acoustic performance. The outcome of this research has the potential to improve the performance of old buildings and outdated architectural designs, while contributing to innovation within the construction industry. You will have a large influence over the project's direction, and thus are expected to use your creativity and your intellect to develop it further. If you are passionate about sustainable design and innovative digital technologies, this project is right for you!

Research environment 

At UMA, you will be part of a forward-thinking and open environment where holistic, interdisciplinary and experimental approaches are seen as crucial to addressing the global challenges and opportunities in architecture. 

Research and postgraduate education at Umeå School of Architecture is structured in four main thematic areas: architectural design; architectural history, theory, and critical studies; landscape and urbanism; and building construction, materiality, and computational design. Research groups at Umeå School of Architecture cross one or more thematic areas and are conceived as experimental laboratories with an impact on education.

The PhD Programme in Architecture aims to educate architectural scholars who are not only deeply knowledgeable in their specific areas of research, but also adept at navigating the complex intersections of architecture, urbanism, landscape, and technology from both a theoretical and practice within diverse cultural, social, and political contexts. Through collaboration with their peers, PhD students can nurture and advance their individual projects within a supportive environment of collective research.

Qualifications 

To be eligible, you are required to have completed a second-cycle level degree, or completed course requirements of at least 240 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits are at second-cycle level, or have an equivalent education from abroad, or equivalent qualifications. To fulfil the specific entry requirements to be admitted for studies at third-cycle level in architecture, you are required to have completed first-cycle courses of at least 90 ECTS credits within the field of architecture, or in a subject considered to be directly relevant for the specialization in question. Of those 90 ECTS credits, you should have acquired at least 15 ECTS credits at second-cycle level within the specialization in question, or an equivalent subject.

We are looking for a candidate with a strong interest in research, and the ability to work independently as well as in a team to accomplish the required tasks. You are proficient in both verbal and written English. Documented experience in using computational design tools (e.g., parametric, generative, and/or algorithmic design) for architectural design or architectural research, and/or experience working with biobased materials for architectural applications are considered an advantage.

Terms of employment

The appointment aims at a PhD degree and the main task of the PhD student is to pursue their doctoral studies, which includes participation in research projects as well as postgraduate courses. Engagement in graduate and postgraduate teaching is recommended (up to 20%). Such engagement will extend the employment in proportion to the departmental service.

The employment is limited to four years full-time or up to five years when it includes part-time teaching. The salary level is determined according to the established salary level for doctoral employment.

The successful candidate will be based in Umeå and expected to be present in Umeå to fulfil their role.  

Application  

Your application shall contain the following documents:  

• A cover letter summarizing your research interests, motivation for applying, main qualifications, and envisioned contribution to UMA’s research environment (max. 2 pages).
• Curriculum Vitae with a list of published work including journal papers, conference papers, technical reports, exhibitions, artistic projects, architectural projects, and/or grey literature, and contact information to at least three references.
• Up to 3 writing samples of published work from the abovementioned list.
• A research proposal (max. 2 pages) which outlines suggested research questions, data and methods aligned with the research project presented above, and which describes how the proposal contributes to the current literature in the field.
• Degree certificates.
• Bachelor and/or Master’s theses, if available.
• A portfolio of previous professional and/or academic work and describes your role in each project (max. 20 pages).
• Applicants with a degree from a non-Swedish university are encouraged to provide their results from the GMAT, GRE and/or TOEFL tests, if available. 

The application should be written in Swedish or English and submitted via our recruitment system Varbi. The application deadline is 28 April, 2024. 

More information

For more information contact Director of doctoral studies, Daniel Movilla Vega, [email protected], +46 (0) 90 786 72 25 or the project leader, Assistant professor Julio Diarte, [email protected], +46 (0) 90 786 60 23.

We look forward to receiving your application!