Postdoctoral fellowship in community-based strategies and tools for a sustainable built environment

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At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

     

About the job

The postdoctoral fellowship position is a temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions.

We have one vacancy for a Postdoctoral position at the Department of Architecture and Technology (IAT), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The Postdoctoral position is linked to an international research project entitled “Participatory collaborative research to enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation in underserved communities in Asia and North- and South America”.

The rise of global surface temperatures is causing more extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and storms. Designing the built environment (physical, natural and social infrastructure) for integrated environmental/social sustainability and resilience against extreme weather is crucial to face and mitigate the challenges, especially in areas inhabited by vulnerable populations. Such design calls for holistic, inclusive, regenerative, and self-sustaining approaches which result in an overall net positive impact on the environment and the communities living in it. 

The research project, that the postdoc will be part of, is a collaboration between partners in Canada, UK, Norway, Switzerland, Indonesia, Colombia and USA, the latter three countries also hosting living labs in selected coastal communities. Based on an interdisciplinary approach, the research project will (1) Assess region-specific climate change related hazards, exposures, vulnerabilities, and current responses in vulnerable communities through citizen-institution dialogues; (2) co-create innovative responses to climate change in a framework of scenarios and implementable regenerative solutions through a participatory design that enhance long-term resilience with net-positive environmental impacts; (3) mobilize and embed knowledge within communities and institutions to enable the adaptation and/or reclamation of the built environment in a resilient and sustainable manner. 

The candidate will be part of the Energy and Environment Group at the Department of Architecture and Technology, NTNU. The Energy and Environment group strives to solve sustainability issues of the built environment and to prepare it for climate neutrality. Based on science and research we advance design solutions that integrate energy and environmental performance with high architectural and spatial quality. We aim at enabling the design of buildings and neighbourhoods with a positive impact on humans and their environment throughout their life cycle. The group currently comprises 10 senior staff members (professors and associate professors), and around 20 research fellows (research assistants, PhD candidates, and post-doctoral researchers).

You will report to the Head of Department when it comes to personal and general professional aspects. You will report to the project manager/supervisor when it comes to scientific and project-related aspects. 

Duties of the position

The postdoc will work with all project partners and living labs but will have a particular focus on collaboration with the Indonesian living lab. The postdoc will bridge the areas of environmental and technical assessments with the use of this information as decision-support in the affected communities. Specifically, the postdoc will contribute in:

• Identifying regenerative approaches for climate adaptation and mitigation in vulnerable communities
• Facilitating co-designs of low-emission climate adaptation solutions within the communities
• Co-developing blueprints for tools and processes for embedding and spreading knowledge about approaches for climate adaptation and mitigation in vulnerable communities
• Collaborations with NTNU master students, as well as an Indonesian PhD candidate (and Indonesian supervisors) in architecture about community-driven scenarios for climate adaptations and sustainable solutions to mitigate climate change.
• Contribute to project management related to the NTNU tasks in the larger research project
• Contribute to management of related data and deliverables in the project.

Required selection criteria

A postdoctoral research fellowship is a qualification position in which the main objective is qualification for work in academic positions. You must have completed a doctoral degree in Architecture, Urban planning, Environmental or Civil Engineering, or a relevant subject. We look for a candidate with:

• Knowledge in vernacular, architectural design
• Knowledge in urban development, transformation and management
• Proven experience with community engagement and/or community co-creation activities
• A strong academic background from previous studies and projects
• Proven analytical capabilities, in courses and or/thesis deliverables,
• Proven written and oral English communication skills.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Ph.D Candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate.

Preferred selection criteria

• Able to take the initiative and manage, with minimum daily supervision, project meetings and project reporting activities,
• Experience with life cycle assessment (LCA) or other sustainability assessment methods
• Experience with climate adaptation and/or mitigation solutions
• Experience in collaborative research projects, preferably of an international nature, is of advantage.
• Dynamic cultural competences and interests in interactions with universities as well as rural communities and non-governmental organizations
• Proven experience or education in project development and project management.
• Experience with south-east Asian culture

Personal characteristics

• Strong motivation and dedication to develop your skills as researcher and contribute to large research projects.
• Motivated to solve environmental problems and advance sustainability.
• Ability to meet deadlines as part of large teams of researchers, in the role of both team member and task responsible.
• Will to take initiative and responsibility in collaborating with research activities beyond your own individual research tasks.
• Ability to work with external partners.
• You can inspire and motivate other researchers and students and create engagement.

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer 

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment 
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues 
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund 
• employee benefits 

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 594 500 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

The period of employment is 3 years.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.  

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application 

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must be attached to the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.  

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result. 

The application must include: 

• A cover letter where the applicant describes the personal motivation to fill the position
• CV, certificates and diplomas
• List of publications
• Research plan or project proposal (max 3 pages incl. references), indicating your view of the main research challenges in the area of the position, the methodological approach and how this is relevant to their own background and the above research objectives. 
• Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 3 works)
• Name and email address of three referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, please attach this as well.
 
Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation. 

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA. 

General information 

Working at NTNU 

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality. 

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The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.  

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As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted. 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact XResearcher Daniel Satola, Professor Arild Gustavsen or Associate Professor Freja Nygaard Rasmussen. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Natalia Swahn.

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation. 

Application deadline: 4.12.2024