PhD position in Digitalisation for Community Development in Rural Areas, to empower Swedish rural communities through tools and methods
Do you like the combination of architecture, participatory planning, software development and UX design? This PhD project aims to empower Swedish rural communities through the development of tools and methods that favour collaborative economy and local self-sufficiency. You will work with with case studies in the Västra Götaland Region and an important part of the project is to develop a local digital infrastructure that lets the community collect, own and act on its own data, to enable locally led transformation processes.
Information about the division
The PhD project is part of the project “Facilitating a new rurality beyond GDP through a Community Operating System”, funded by Formas. You will be part of the Division of Urban Design and Planning, in which we address urban design and planning in all scales and all types of settlements, from single urban spaces to the urban landscape and entire regions. Our main focus in both research and education is on how the built environment can support sustainable development. As cities and regions today face economic, social and ecological challenges – such as climate change, competition for land, increasing regional imbalance, segregation and gentrification – we develop theories, methods and tools with the aim to make a difference.
Major responsibilities
As a PhD student your main responsibility is to pursue your doctoral studies, which includes to work with the research project and to undertake doctoral courses. You are expected to plan and organise your research with support from your supervisor, to work independently as well as in close collaboration with other project group members and external partners (local communities), to share results in a popular science format – preferably in Swedish through eg. social media, and to communicate scientific results, both orally and in written form, in English.
Qualifications
To qualify for the PhD position you must have a Master’s Degree in Architecture or Spatial Planning and also have provable skills in terms of software development for web and mobile apps and UX design. You should also have experience in community development related to self-organized and/or intentional communities. International experiences are a merit and also knowledge of the local context where the research will take place (Västra Götaland). Excellent oral and written skills in English are a requirement. Swedish is not a requirement but a merit, due to the interaction with local stakeholders in the Västra Götaland region.
Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.
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Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20220122 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as pdf-files, as below:
CV: (Please name the document: CV, Family name, Ref. number)
• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
• Two references that we can contact.
Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, practice, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities)
• Describe your future goals and future research focus
Other documents:
• Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results.
Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. The files may be compressed (zipped).
Application deadline: 29 April 2022.
For questions, please contact:
Senior researcher Marco Adelfio, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
Division of Urban Design and Planning
Email: adelfio@chalmers.se
*** 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 conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!