PhD student in Natural Resources/Sustainable Development-Urban underground - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Earth Sciences of Uppsala University focuses on subjects that range from the Earth's core to the atmosphere, on scales from submicroscopic structures in minerals to the formation of mountains and oceans, and from basic research on natural resources to research on how humans can sustainably manage these resources. For more information please visit: The Department of Earth Sciences.

The interdisciplinary research of the Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Programme within the department focuses on different dimensions of sustainable development, including sustainable energy transitions. Global Energy Systems (GES) is one of the Programme's overarching themes that focuses on the global, national and local energy systems and sustainable resource governance from an interdisciplinary perspective. Natural science is combined with technical, economic and social research to analyse, understand and model how energy systems work and change over time and how they interact with the economy, the environment and our society.

The PhD student position is placed in Uppsala within the interdisciplinary research program Natural Resources and Sustainable Development.

Duties/Project description: A rising rate of urbanisation, coupled with climate change impacts and the transition to a carbon-neutral society, will put considerable pressure on the increasingly stretched metropolitan areas. To meet these challenges, there is need to significantly enhance the use of the space below the city landscape. The underground is a place that, once transformed, becomes a permanent future. For this reason, underground spatial planning requires strategically driven, comprehensive, and long-term visions. By taking the case of Stockholm municipality as the analytical point of entry, the overall purpose of the project is two: 1) to develop conceptual tools and empirical insights for better understanding social, technical and geophysical dynamics of sustainable urban underground planning and use; 2) to provide practical solutions and guidance for long-term planning and envisioning sustainable use of the underground space. The project will be conducted in a collaborative interdisciplinary research environment involving Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (NRHU) and Geophysics.

The work of the PhD student will be focused on two interrelated objectives: 1) to investigate what currently happens in the city subsurface and identify challenges and opportunities regarding the future transition of the urban underground space; 2) to anticipate future visions of the city subsurface in terms of transportation, storage, energy, and public uses.

The position can include up to 20% of teaching and administrative work, which extends the employment period with a corresponding time.

Requirements: The applicant shall have a university master's degree in urban planning, human geography, political science, science and technology studies, sustainable development, or equivalent. The successful candidate shall have documented experience in applying qualitative research methods, such as text/discourse analysis, interviews, observations, stakeholder mapping, and/or ethnographic approaches. Good written and spoken English language skills are a requirement. Experience in interdisciplinary research is a requirement.

Additional qualifications: Good Swedish language skills.

Application: The application must contain a letter (two pages max) that briefly describes your motives for applying for the PhD position, how you want to contribute to the project, as well as relevant skills, qualifications and research interests. The application must also contain a CV, copies of relevant grades, degree project and contact information for two reference persons.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

Salary: According to local agreement for PhD students.

Starting date: 01-10-2021 or as otherwise agreed.

Type of employment: Temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7.

Scope of employment: 100 %

For further information about the position please contact: Magdalena Kuchler, phone number + 46 18 471 68 85, email: madalena.kuchler@geo.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 30 August 2021, UFV-PA 2021/3025.

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