We welcome applications for a doctoral student position in circularity and habitat values in urban planning and transformation. This doctoral project provides a unique opportunity to pursue pioneering research on rethinking space and municipal planning processes conducted in co-creation and a transdisciplinary setting spanning architecture, urban development, human geography, ecology, and economy.
Project summary
The doctoral student will carry out a large part of the research project "Rethinking urban planning and transformation in co-creation: Towards a framework for calculation of habitat value for an equitable, resource efficient, and circular built living environment", funded by the Swedish Research Council Formas.
The project aims to develop knowledge and a methodology on how to better utilize, broaden, and develop existing socio-economic calculations in detailed planning. It explores how municipalities can improve the design and care of cities’ living environment.
Our starting point is that habitat value—existing qualities of a place—cannot be bought or sold, but only managed and refined in co-creation with inhabitants. The long-term goal is to enable structural changes in land use economy within municipal spatial planning to support the transition from a linear to a circular built environment, and to shift from new construction to transformation and renovation.
The project adopts a practice-based, transdisciplinary approach, bringing together academia, the public sector, and a collaborative arena. It applies the New European Bauhaus principles: sustainable, beautiful, and together. The framework is iteratively developed, and four cases in Gothenburg cover various circularity perspectives of the built environment, ensuring robustness and scalability:
- Resilience of buildings (offices to residential use)
- Agricultural ecosystems (urban farming)
- Co-creation of cultural values (industrial site into art/culture hub)
- Education and circular systems (reuse of material for school)
By challenging current practices, a process towards a shift in management of the circular economy in the public sector is envisioned.
Research environment
The Research Area CoDesign for Equitable Living Environments (CoDele) will be the home of the doctoral student. Our work focuses on shaping and transforming space while addressing the complexity of current challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and socio-economic injustice. We emphasize social and ethical responsibility, conscious and critical engagement of society, and require multi-stakeholder participation in design processes, where stakeholders from different backgrounds and disciplines learn together.
Our team is diverse and comprises researchers and teachers with architectural, planning, urbanism, and human geography backgrounds, Doctoral students, and other early-career academics.
Supervision
The doctoral student’s supervision team at Chalmers will be:
- Liane Thuvander – Professor in Architecture and Sustainable Building, leader of the research area CoDele, and leader of the Thematic Area Land
- Marco Adelfio – Professor in Applied Urbanism
For aspects of management of sustainable urban development and calculative practices, you will be supported by:
- Sara Brorström – Professor from the Section for Management and Organization, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg
The research is conducted in a transdisciplinary setting and supported by actors from the Environmental and Cultural Administration of the City of Gothenburg.
The successful candidate will be admitted to the Graduate School in Architecture and earn a doctoral degree within the subject of architecture.
Main responsibilities
As a doctoral student, you will plan, drive, and carry out the research activities of our project with support from the supervisors and in collaboration with the Environmental and Cultural Administration of the City of Gothenburg. You will also contribute to research communication through co-authored articles in top-ranked academic journals and conferences, popular science channels, and case-related activities.
The research will involve both desktop and practice-based research. You will:
- Contextualize your research through literature and document studies, combined with a survey directed to Swedish municipalities and key organizations.
- Develop the framework for calculation of habitat values using the four Gothenburg cases as testbeds.
- Design the development process and procedures for iterative testing and evaluation of the framework in co-creation with the project team and stakeholders.
- Organize, facilitate, and document workshops; conduct interviews; align research with municipal strategies for sustainable building, both generally and in Gothenburg specifically.
- Analyze municipal organizational structures and prerequisites, challenge them, and integrate the framework into municipal processes.
- Engage in a process of “unlearning” to challenge existing practices.
Additional duties
Besides conducting pioneering research, the Doctoral student will:
- Participate in research environment activities.
- Help organize events related to the doctoral project and broader agendas in circularity, co-design, and planning.
- Disseminate research results through peer-reviewed publications and international conferences.
- Communicate research to the public and industry.
- Prepare materials for, and participate in, project meetings, stakeholder workshops, and related events.
- Teach and co-supervise master-level students, and carry out other departmental work (max. 20% of a full-time position).
Qualifications
Mandatory educational background
- Master’s degree in urban and regional planning, architecture, sustainable building, urban studies, urban geography, human geography, public management, or a related social science field.
- At least four years of study (240 ECTS credits), with a minimum of 60 ECTS credits at advanced (Master’s) level (or equivalent).
- By the start of enrollment in the doctoral program, the candidate must hold a Master’s degree, including a Master’s thesis equivalent to at least one term (30 ECTS credits).
Other mandatory skills and personal traits
- Ability to work and navigate in transdisciplinary settings.
- Communication skills in Swedish are meritorious.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
- Skills in graphic and visual communication.
- Ability to take initiative, work independently, and drive your work forward.
- Highly motivated personality.
Contract terms and what we offer
- As a doctoral student at Chalmers, you are an employee and enjoy all employee benefits. Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.
- The position is limited to four years, with the possibility to teach up to 20%, which extends the position to five years.
- A dynamic and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg.
- A starting salary of 34,550 SEK per month (valid from May 25, 2025).
Chalmers is dedicated to improving gender balance and actively works with equality projects, such as the GENIE Initiative for gender equality and excellence.
If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses to help you settle in.
Application procedure
Applications must include:
CV (Please name the document: CV, Family name, Ref. number):
- CV.
- Names and contact details of two references that we can contact.
- If applicable, bibliographic details and copies of academic publications, if unavailable publicly online.
Personal letter (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number), 1-2 A4 pages where you:
- Introduce yourself.
- Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, thesis work and, if applicable, research activities).
- Describe, exemplify and motivate your interest in the PhD project topic stated under the heading "PhD project summary".
Other documents:
- Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
- Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates.
Please note: All attachments need to be included in the application - please do not provide them as links to cloud-based and digital repositories such as Google Drive. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email will not be considered. Please submit via the "Apply" button below.
Application deadline: 15 September, 2025
For questions, please contact:
Professor Liane Thuvander
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
[email protected]Division Manager Maja Kovacs
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
[email protected]Associate Professor Marco Adelfio
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
[email protected]Professor Sara Brorström
Department of Business Administration, University of Gothenburg
[email protected]
Please note that in July and August responses may be delayed due to the vacation period in Sweden.
*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***
Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. The university has 3100 employees and 10,000 students, and offers education in engineering, science, shipping and architecture. With scientific excellence as a basis, Chalmers promotes knowledge and technical solutions for a sustainable world. Through global commitment and entrepreneurship, we foster an innovative spirit, in close collaboration with wider society.
Chalmers was founded in 1829 and has the same motto today as it did then: Avancez – forward.
