PhD Position in Multi-layer Building Stocks Characterisation and Circular Economy Potential

Do you want to be part of the circular revolution to rethink the way we value the built environment? Join us as a fully-funded PhD in the MSCA doctoral networkQuiVal- Quantum Inspired Valuation of Circular Real Estate (https://quival-research.eu/ ).

The SDU Life Cycle Engineering at the Department of Green Technology, University of Southern Denmark, invites applications for a Fully Funded three-year PhD in multi-layer building stocks characterisation and circular economy potential, in the MSCA Doctoral Network QuiVal, where we learn, ideate and reimagine real estate value and valuation practices by drawing inspiration from quantum theories.

The position is available from November 1, 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.  

The application deadline is 23 September 2024 at 11.59 PM / 23.59 (CET/CEST) 

Project Overview

In order to make our cities more circular, we need to fundamentally revisit the way that we define and quantify the value of our built environment. This fully-funded PhD project is part of a Marie Sklodowska Curie Action Doctoral Network, QuiVal, a programme funded by the European Union with the aim to develop a fundamentally new approach to real estate valuation, allowing the sector to rapidly transition towards a more sustainable, low carbon and circular future. This will be achieved through a transdisciplinary PhD training programme across 8 universities and 14 industry partners, and including 13 PhD students who will work, together and separately, to rethink the philosophy, principles and processes of valuation. 

The programme is transdisciplinary and co-produced by leading academics and practitioners who are passionate and knowledgeable about the real estate industry and about sustainability. Five objectives have been developed through which to achieve the aim, and each PhD project will respond to one of these objectives. 

For an overview of all the vacancies of QuiVal, click here.

PhD Topic Description

The PhD project at University of Southern Denmark (research project 3a) is part of the response to the Third objective, ‘Value of the building that is mobile’. The scale and quality of the existing building stock are the key determinants for stock upgrade and new construction. They indirectly determine the level of demolition and thus affect changes in building life expectancy. Understanding the quantity and quality of future construction and demolition waste and potentials of various CE strategies (including but not limited to material recycling and component reuse) requires high-resolution characterisation of the building stock. By integrating material stocks and material flow analyses, geographic information systems (GIS), socio-economic statistics, and engineering and architectural knowledge from diverse sources, this project will characterise the spatial building stocks at building, structure, component, and material layers, using case cities in Europe as examples. Based on this, potential for various CE strategies will be explored under different urban development, political and socio-economic scenarios. This project aims to develop methods to characterise building stocks in high resolution at multiple layers. This characterisation will facilitate the assessment and development of CE strategies, and it will incorporate quantum-inspired approaches to capture the dynamic and probabilistic nature of building values and life cycles. As well as a dissertation, and a number of academic papers, the project will produce an accessible report for real estate professionals.

The PhD student will spend the majority of the funded three years at University of Southern Denmark in Odense, Denmark, but will also be funded for two periods on secondment to QuiVal partners, one to industry partner Ramboll and the other to university partner Delft University of Technology in Delft, the Netherlands. There will also be significant opportunities for sharing knowledge and fostering discussions with the other 12 PhD students, through five workshops and three summer schools. The PhD students will also work together to collect data and collaborate with stakeholders including a network of industry frontrunners who are partners in the programme, increasing understanding, research impact, and chances of employment in the real estate and related sectors.
 

What we expect
You will be embedded in the QuiVal community. For your role in research project 3a, we are looking for a PhD student who has:

• An MSc degree with a background in computer science, data science, geographic information systems (GIS), industrial ecology, civil engineering, digitalization or sustainable design (for recycling, for environment).
• Proficiency in English speaking, reading and writing.
• Strong skills in mixed research methods, with experience in GIS or material flow analysis.
• Ability to work with large datasets and proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., Python, R, MATLAB, etc).
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically and innovatively about sustainable practices.
• Good communicative and entrepreneurial skills, independent attitude paired with an ability to work in a research team.
• Able to lead in research and involve the research team and industrial partners in knowledge co-creation and sharing activities.
• Affinity with design of new approaches and an open-mind to stretch the imagination of its application are a considered a benefit!

This vacancy follows the recruitment procedures of QuiVal, which are set up in compliance to the MSCA doctoral network recruitment rules from the European Commission, most notably the mobility and eligibility of the Doctoral Candidates:

• Candidates may not have a PhD degree.
• Candidates must have not lived in host institutions country for at least 2 years out of last 3 years.

SDU Life Cycle Engineering
The successful candidates will be affiliated with the SDU Life Cycle Engineering, which is acknowledged for its unique research on global, holistic, and systems integration of agriculture, energy, and materials sectors. 

The Department of Green Technology is located in Odense, the main campus of the University of Southern Denmark. Odense is a fast-growing international community with an open Scandinavian culture, affordable housing and living costs. 

Further information about this position is available from Assistant Professor Wu Chen, [email protected] and Head of SDU Life Cycle Engineering, Professor Morten Birkved, [email protected] . 

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

Conditions of employment

Appointment as a PhD fellow is a 3-year salaried position.

The monthly gross salary incl. pension is 35.707DKR. If you have relevant postgraduate experience, you may be placed on a higher salary step. 

Applicants must hold a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish master's degree) at the time of enrollment and employment. 

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

Employment as a PhD fellow governed by the Protocol on PhD Research Fellows signed by the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information about salary and conditions of employment. 

The successful candidate will be enrolled at SDU in accordance with Faculty regulations and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities (PhD order). 

Assessment and selection process

Read about the Assessment and selection process. 

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee or an expert. Shortlisting may be applied. Only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU. 

Interviews and tests may be part of the process.

Application procedure

Before applying the candidates are advised to read the Faculty information for prospective PhD students, the SDU information on how to apply and specific faculty information for application at the Faculty of Engineering. 

The application shall include the following documents in English:

• Cover letter (maximum 1 page). 
• Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages), including personal contact information, describing research, publications (if any), along with other relevant information, e.g. teaching experience, computational skills etc.
• A short research proposal to show how you will adress the topic (maximum 2 pages, excluding bibliography). 
• Certificates/Diplomas (bachelor’s and master’s degree) – incl. transcripts of grades in Danish and/or English. 
• Contact information (name, phone number and email address) of three academic or professional referees.
• Completed TEK PhD application form for 5+3 applicants. Find the form at the Faculty website.
• Completed TEK PhD form for calculation grade point average. Find the form at the Faculty website. 
• An official document describing the grading scheme of the awarding universities (if not Danish). 
• Only for applicants from programmes that evaluate thesis/examination project by approved/not approved: Please submit an official and verified written assessment of the thesis or dissertation project from the grade giving institution. The statement must clearly state that the candidate has been among the top 30 pct. in the graduation class for the study programme.

UPLOAD GUIDE: Cover letter shall be uploaded as ‘Cover letter’, Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded as ‘Resume’. All other documents shall be uploaded as ‘Miscellaneous documents’. 

The application deadline is 23 September 2024 at 11.59 PM / 23.59 (CET/CEST) 

Formalities

• Documents should not contain a CPR number (civil registration number) – in this case, the CPR number must be crossed out.
• The application and CV must not exceed 10 MB. 

The University of Southern Denmark wishes to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.