PhD fellow in Arctic Urban Space Design Controversies 

About the position

The Institute of Urbanism and Landscape has an open position forPhD research proposals that explore the materialities and controversies of urban space design in small Arctic cities. The PhD candidate will be part of the Arctic research group. Professor Peter Hemmersam will be the supervisor. 

Well-designed living environments and urban spaces are important to marginal communities. The physical urban and social environment, including meeting places (‘attraktivt bumiljø’), is increasingly important to people’s choice of where to live. Good urban space design also encourages physical activity and improves public health. According to the WHO, health is not only the absence of disease but also physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Well-designed and attractive places can benefit relational outcomes such as community attachment, sense of belonging, connection to nature, and, thus, the quality of life of those living in Arctic communities. 

Hampering these potential benefits of urban space, is a lack of local engagement in the spatial organisation of Arctic communities with a history of colonialism, socioeconomic challengesandanexperienceofnotbeingheard. Outsideexpertsoftenoverseelocal perspectives in urban planning and design, and economic actors located elsewhere determine the livelihood of communities. Co-planning and -design approaches have the potential to distribute power but often suffer from narrow representation and potentially reinforce differences between participants and non-participants. Further, dominant models of urban space design stem from southern metropoles, and there is limited learning between communities in the Arctic. The winter climate often challenges the value and suitability of these spatial models when transferred to the North. For instance, the materiality of Arctic urban space, including ice, snow and darkness, can impede soft mobility and the use of urban space. 

The existing Arctic urban design literature is often solution-oriented and fails to consider design controversies, such as between planners and residents, locals and new urban arrivals, or colonialism and hegemonic narrativesvs. Indigenous and local identities and agency. Mapping such controversies is a study of Arctic cities and settlements in the making, and critical studies of the design intentions, social and cultural tensions, material outcomes, and uses of urban space design in small marginal communities are needed. Research proposals should explore a contemporary urban space design case in a small town or city in the Nordic Arctic (Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland or north of the AHDR Arctic boundary in Sweden, Finland, and Norway). This involves fieldwork and engagement with local communities, and the applicant should have the language skills required for the selected case site. The research should make methodological contributions to mapping urban space materiality and design controversies, and proposals should outline research approaches and knowledge sources. 

Spending time at another institution in the University of the Arctic North2North network as a visiting PhD student is strongly recommended and will be considered favorably. 

The PhD position includes a year of teaching, making it a four-year position. The applicant should specify the educational relevance of the research on Arctic urbanism and/or sustainable and climate-adapted urban design. Teaching is usually part of the second and third year. 

Formal requirements 

We seek a highly motivated individual with a strong track record from the intersection of digital technology, design and body-based practices.

The candidate must: 

• Have a Master’s degree in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, human geography, history of art/architecture, or similar 
• Be able to document language skills necessary for conducting fieldwork in the selected case site in addition to fluent in English
• Teaching experience is an advantage, not a requirement

Personal skills

• Ambitious, curious and highly motivated
• Ability to work systematically and complete work tasks within given deadlines
• Strong motivation to contribute to a good working and social environment
• Professional and personal ability to complete the PhD project on time

Requirements for the project description

A tentative project outline of maximum 5 pages. This should contain1) the research field and research questions, 2) theoretical approach/methods, 3) empirical and/or case study material and 4) educational relevance 

The Application must include

• Project description (max 5 pages)
• An application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position (two A4 pages maximum)
• CV
• A portfolio of relevant work (three projects maximum)
• Examples of work written by the applicant if available (three works maximum)
• 3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail address and telephone number).

Applications that do not comply with the formal requirements will not be considered. Attachments beyond the required documents will not be taken into consideration. Only applications submitted through Jobbnorge will be considered.

The PhD application will be assessed according to the following criteria: 

• The quality of the project description (outline)
• The applicant's suitability for the research tasks
• The academic competence of the applicant

We offer

The PhD scholarship is fully funded 4-yearposition, with 25 % compulsory workand there is no tuition fee. The salary is NOK 532 200 for a full position. From the salary, there will be a mandatory deduction of 2 % as a contribution to the State Pension fund (SPK). Standard employment conditions for state employees in Norway apply for the position. 

An annual allowance of 25 000 NOK (in total 75 000 NOK for the PhD period) for literature and other necessary academic activities. Office space in a professionally stimulating working environment. 

Information meeting 

The PhD Programme at The Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO) will arrange an online information meeting about the AHO PhD Programme in the end of January. A link to the information meeting will be published onhttp://www.ahophdlive.com closer to the event.

General information about the PhD Programme: https://aho.no/en/content/phd-program

 Contact information

Questions about this PhD position can be directed to:

Peter Hemmersam, Professor of Urban Design, e-mail: peter.hemmersam@aho.no

Hanna DencikPetersson, Head of the Institute of Urbanism and Landscape, e-mail hanna.charlotta.dencik.petersson@aho.no

Formal regulations

The purpose of this graduate research fellowship is research training leading to a completed PhD. The content of the position shall be regulated by the specific agreement reached between the scholarship recipient, the local unit where they will be working and their supervisor(s). The educational component in the AHO PhD Programme is mandatory and requires fulltime attendance. Residency in Oslo for the employment period is mandatory. Research stay at a relevant international academic institution is encouraged. The PhD fellowship will start September 1, 2025. 

From 1 august 2025 the Norwegian Universities and University Colleges Act states that if the Research fellow cannot document proficiency in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish at level A2 upon employment, AHO must offer Norwegian language training. The research fellow must complete training equivalent to at least 15 credits within the term of employment. This is not part of the educational component of the PhD Programme. 

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the AHO.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. AHO has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

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 AHO.