Doctoral student in Urban Studies with the Horizon research project “Prototypes for addressing the housing-energy nexus”

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We are looking for   

Doctoral student in Urban Studies at The Faculty of Culture and Society, Department of Urban Studies.

As a doctoral student at the department, you are part of the postgraduate subject Urban Studies, which can be defined as the scientific study of the content, form, planning and transformation of urban areas together with environmental, economic, and organisational aspects on urban development. The subject is positioned in a field of tension between social and cultural practices and the material world of global resource flows, manufactured landscapes, buildings, infrastructure, and everyday objects. Urban Studies is of major substantive breadth and treats several aspects of urban conditions, which requires that it is pluralistic in terms of research methods. Urban Studies is based on a multi-and interdisciplinary foundation with roots in engineering, natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities. More information about doctoral studies at Malmö University here.

Work duties   

The doctoral candidate will participate in the Horizon research project “PREFIGURE. Prototypes for addressing the housing-energy nexus” (proposal number 101132777). The doctoral student will be expected to carry out a set of defined research tasks and can use the research results as part of their doctoral dissertation.

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ABSTRACT OF THE PROJECT

PREFIGURE. Prototypes for addressing the housing-energy nexus

European societies are confronted with an interlinked housing and energy crisis that is challenging social cohesion. As access to affordable housing becomes limited, inflation and accelerating energy prices pinpoint that energy poverty and housing inequalities mutually reinforce. Within this context, the deep renovation of the existing housing stock is promoted as key policy action. However, despite policy efforts from the EU to the local state, there are growing concerns that the transformation of housing markets may further aggravate the existing housing inequalities and energy poverty. To offer more equitable pathways to the green transition, PREFIGURE puts the spotlight on existing and emerging individual and collective efforts of policy, market, and social innovation. The project aims at identifying, tracing, analysing and networking emerging and active ‘prototypes of change’ with regard to the housing-energy efficiency/energy poverty nexus. Research objectives are to: (i) offer understanding of how practices of innovation contribute to affordable housing renovation schemes that disrupt existing housing inequalities and energy poverty; (ii) identify how housing policies trigger sustainable housing and energy transitions, how financial incentives for energy-efficient buildings are accessed by different types of owners and tenants, and how different user groups perceive sustainable housing and energy transitions, with a particular focus on income and wealth polarisation consequences on vulnerable groups; and (iii) mobilise knowledge about innovative practices for sustainable housing and energy transitions and cocreate evidence-based policy solutions. Method innovation relies on fusing transformative qualitative and quantitative with technological and real-laboratory research to co-create and up-scale knowledge and practices that signal the green transition.

The appointed doctoral student is expected to formulate and carry out an independent and individual research project that addresses the theme of the housing-energy nexus. The PhD student will work in close collaboration with both junior and senior researchers in the project. The doctoral student is responsible, in close dialogue with the sub-study coordinators, for ensuring that his/her project is adapted to the overall research projec.

Those appointed to doctoral studentships shall primarily devote themselves to their studies. Those appointed to doctoral studentships may, however, work to a limited extent with educational tasks, research, artistic research, and administration. Duties of this kind may not comprise more than 20 per cent of a full-time post (Chapter 5, Section 2 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

The doctoral education results in a doctoral degree and comprises 240 ECTS credits, which corresponds to four years of full-time study. The programme includes courses and a research project that is presented in a doctoral thesis. As a doctoral student, you will be expected to play an active part in the research and educational environment and, when applicable, in the research programmes of the Department of Urban Studies and the activities of the Institute for Urban Research.

It is also desired that non-Swedish speaking employees eventually acquire enough proficiency in Swedish to be able to participate in the day-to-day work of their department or division.

Qualifications   

To be admitted to doctoral studies, the applicant must meet the general and specific entry requirements of the subject in question. Moreover, the applicant must be deemed capable of assimilating the education.

The general entry requirements for doctoral education (HEO Chapter 7 Section 39) will be met by those who meet at least one of the following criteria:

• been awarded a qualification at Master level,
• satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded on Master level
• or acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Specific entry requirements for the education in Urban Studies stipulate that the applicant has acquired the knowledge and skills equivalent to a second-cycle degree in Urban Studies or in another subject relevant to Urban Studies, or has the equivalent knowledge acquired within or outside the country. In view of the multidisciplinary character of the field of Urban Studies subjects within the social sciences and humanities as well as within the technology and the arts may be relevant to meet the specific requirements. 

Specific requirements for this position

• Documented English proficiency.
• Documented experience of working with qualitative methods

Selection criteria 

The selection among applicants who meet the general and specific entry requirements shall be made in function of their capacity to complete the education (HEO Chapter 7 Section 41).

General selection criteria

• Independent analysis and approach in previous work
• Problem formulation and precision in previous work
• Methodological and scholarly maturity

Faculty, Department and Research environment  

Faculty of Culture and Society

The Faculty of Culture and Society is a multidisciplinary faculty that includes three departments: the Department of Global Political Studies the School of Arts and Communication and the Department of Urban Studies. The Faculty conducts doctoral studies in the following subjects: Global Politics (GP), Interaction Design (ID), International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER), Media and Communication Studies (MKV), Organisation Studies (OS) and Urban Studies (US). The Faculty hosts two of the university’s five research centres. Read more about the Faculty of Culture and Society here.

The Department of Urban Studies

The department of Urban Studies is characterised by three core features: dynamic interdisciplinary research; a professional organisation; and a highly qualified faculty. The Department comprises around 95 researchers and teachers, as well as 2000 students. We have a strong emphasis on theory-driven empirical research and teaching informed by the social and behavioural sciences. Our research centres around: Urban Studies and Organisation studies. Across these fields, we unite around cultural, economic, material, social and discursive processes of change. Furthermore, we collaborate with our well-established networks within the public sector, the corporate sector and civil society.

The department offers two doctoral programmes and several masters programmes, in Organisation Studies and Urban Studies, as well as bachelor programmes encompassing city planning, environmental studies, transport and logistics, real estate science as well as bachelor level studies in organisation and leadership. Read more about the Department of Urban Studies here.

The Institute for Urban Research

The Institute for Urban Research is a university-wide research program that brings together all urban research at Malmö University.

Seeking to shape a collective identity for urban research at Malmö University, the IUR aims to create a research environment that clearly meets urban challenges across the globe.

The IUR is open to all research within the broad field of urban studies but has a specific focus on seven themes: housing and urban renewal, urban economics, mobilities, urban ecology, migration, social sustainability and smart cities. Read more about IUR here.

Further information   

For questions about the project and the Institute for Urban Research, please contact Professor Guy Baeten at guy.baeten@mau.se

For questions regarding the PhD education, contact Karin Grundström, Head of PhD Studies, at karin.grundström@mau.se

For other questions contact Kerstin Sandell, Head of Department, at Kerstin.sandell@mau.se

For general employment and procedural questions, contact Rebecca Nordh, Human Resources, at rebecca.nordh@mau.se

In our recruitment work, Malmö University has taken a stand regarding recruitment channels and marketing. We therefore decline all offers of advertising and recruitment assistance in connection with this advertisement.   

You can read more about the benefits of working in Sweden here: https://sweden.se/collection/working-in-sweden/    

Application   

You may apply for this position via Malmö University's recruitment system by clicking on the "Apply" button. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that your application is completed in accordance with the job advertisement, and that it is submitted to the University no later than 15 january 2024. The application must be written in English. As an applicant, you are responsible for the application and its appendices being translated.  

The application must include:

• Completed application form for admission to Doctoral Education here
• Curriculum Vitae with up to three professional references (including title, affiliation, email address, phone number, and the relationship to the applicant)
• Certified scans of diplomas, transcript of records and other certificates relevant for the position
• A motivation letter (one page) stating why you want to be part of this project
• Description (1 page) of how your research skills and experience would be useful for this project
• Independent work at advanced level (including master thesis or equivalent)

Miscellaneous   

Preparation of admission to postgraduate education and employment as a doctoral student take place in parallel. Only those who are or have been admitted to third-cycle courses and study programmes at a higher education may be appointed to doctoral studentships (Chapter 5, Section 3 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

The doctoral studentship is a fixed-term position comprising four years of full-time studies, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5 Section 7.

Malmö University is a workplace and higher education institution that is characterised by an open and inclusive approach, where gender equality and equal terms add value to our activities.  

Malmö University applies salary setting for doctoral students in accordance with a local agreement on salary setting for doctoral students.

Start date   

The starting date is 1 September 2024.

Union representatives   

SACO-S, Rebecka Johansson, rebecka.johansson@mau.se

OFR, Martin Reissner, martin.reissner@mau.se

PhD Student Union representative 

Fredrik Linander, fredrik.linander@mau.se

Sadiq Abubakar Gulma, sadiq.gulma@mau.se

We are looking forward to receiving your application!