PhD position in Landscape Architecture, especially Landscape Planning

Ref SLU.ua.2021.2.5.1-1823

Department or Urban and Rural Development

The Department of Urban and Rural Development is located at the main campus of SLU in Uppsala. It has a unique profile with its four main divisions, Landscape architecture (including planning), Environmental communication, Rural development, and Agrarian history. It offers a rapidly growing, international, and interdisciplinary research environment with a research focus on the interplay between the environment and society.

Landscape revisited: landscape characterization for sustainable development

Description:

We are looking for a PhD candidate who will examine and develop qualitative approaches for landscape characterization for planning that go beyond the conventional cartographic approaches, and beyond the rural – urban divide. To achieve this goal the student is expected to lean on landscape studies in combination with a historical approach or examinations of everyday life, in studies of recreation and its mobilities.

The candidate will be one of 10 PhD students within an interdisciplinary European Innovative Training Network (ITN), called TOD IS RUR: “Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) for Rural-Urban Regions”. The ITN will provide unique opportunities for international and interdisciplinary learning with peers at leading European universities and with leading practitioners within the field of landscape characterization. For this candidate, close collaboration with the Center for Metropolitan Studies, Technische Universität Berlin, will be of key importance, as will collaborations with practicing landscape architects. Case studies are expected to be carried out in Sweden and Germany. More information on TOD IS RUR is available at: https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/projects/tod-is-rur/

Tasks and Responsibilities:

You perform independent research within a collaborative international research consortium.
You prepare a doctoral thesis on the topic of methods for landscape characterization with rural-urban TODs as the case.
You publish scientific articles related to the research project.
You participate in and contribute to scientific meetings and conferences, presenting your research to the scientific community.
You actively participate in outreach activities aimed at promoting your research to a wider audience.
You collaborate with the other members of the consortium to advance your research and training.
You participate in the tailored training program.
You deliver written reports of your research on a regular basis.
You take part in an academic secondment to the Center for Metropolitan Studies, Technische Universität Berlin (5 months) for studying German cases and potentially for deepening the historical approach.

Qualifications:

You hold a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Human Geography, Landscape, Spatial or Environmental Planning, Urban Studies, or a similar master’s degree with a focus on landscape and planning. Master students in their final year may apply. Final selection under the condition of showing transcripts of their master’s degree in July (15^th at the latest).
You have outstanding academic records.
You have skills in qualitative and geographic/spatial methods of relevance for characterizing landscapes. Experience of working with history, ethnographic approaches, or of landscape studies is an advantage.
You are interested in interdisciplinary, theory-driven research and have strong analytical skills.
You are quality-oriented, conscientious, creative, and a team player.
You have strong communication skills.
Language proficiency: excellent use of English is essential (C1 level minimum). Knowledge of Swedish, German, Danish or Norwegian (B2 lever or more) is an advantage.
Applicants can be of any nationality but have to comply with the H2020 MSCA eligibility criteria:

H2020 MSCA Mobility Rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.

H2020 MSCA ESR eligibility criteria: Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) must be, at the date of recruitment by the host organization, in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-Time Equivalent Research Experience is measured from the date when the researcher obtained the degree entitling him/her to embark on a doctorate (either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited, even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged).

Place of work:

Uppsala

Forms for funding or employment:

Employment as Phd Student, 4 years.

Starting date:

September 1, 2021.

Application:

We welcome your application no later than 2021-06-09, use the button below.

Individuals have basic eligibility for third cycle education if they have taken a second cycle qualification or has completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 higher education credits at second cycle education. Upper secondary school grades equivalent to English B/English 6 are a basic requirement.

Final selection is made with reference to a written application including a CV, a two-page proposed research outline, copies of degrees and transcripts of academic records, a copy of the MS thesis, at least two referees familiar with the applicant’s qualifications, certified knowledge of the English language, and an interview.

Please observe that applicant offered the PhD position shall, as part of the application to the PhD program, hand in certified true copies of certificates, diplomas and transcripts of studies at a recognized higher education institution (university or university college). If the applicant is a foreign citizen we require a certified copy of the page in your passport with your personal data and photography.

Read about the PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/

Academic union representatives:

https://internt.slu.se/min-anstallning/facket/kontaktpersoner/

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) develops the understanding and sustainable use and management of biological natural resources. The university ranks well internationally within its subject areas. SLU is a research-intensive university that also offers unique degree programmes in for example rural development and natural resource management, environmental economics, animal science and landscape architecture.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala.

www.slu.se

SLU is an equal opportunity employer.

Contact person

Mattias Qviström

Professor

018-672528

Mattias.Qvistrom@slu.se

Dorothee Brantz