Postdoc, Sustainable spatial planning: tools for climate neutral cities

Job description

The appointee will work on an ambitious project aimed at helping cities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and achieve climate neutrality. The project will combine world-leading research on climate action, the use of AI in urban planning, and nature-based solutions (NBS) to create a tool which supports cities in implementing effective climate action strategies through spatial planning. The appointee will be responsible for leading the modelling work on this project and coordinating the research and practical aspects of the project from both the involved Swedish cities and international research partners.

It is essential for the applicant to have solid theoretical and applied background in sustainable urban and regional planning, decision support systems, nature-based solutions, and carbon neutral cities.

The candidate is expected to produce high-quality scientific papers, suitable for publication in high profile journals and presentations at national and international conferences, and contribute for external funding proposals. In addition to this, the candidate will need to interact with various Swedish planning authorities for project coordination and communication.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• a strong background in computational decision support systems for urban planning
• programming skills, spatial modeling, carbon accounting, and spatial data analysis
• a publication track record that clearly reflects the ability to conduct and publish research in the fields of urban planning, decision support systems, nature-based solutions, and carbon-neutral cities
• excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• sufficient understanding of Swedish to facilitate working with the relevant Swedish planning authorities and use local Swedish planning documents and data
• the ability to represent the research group internally and externally for instance at national and international conferences and workshops

Preferred qualifications

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree, obtained within the last three years prior to the application deadline
• Experience from developing methods and tools for decision support in urban planning, spatial land use modelling and analysis, carbon accounting, and analysis of nature-based solutions;
• Ability to communicate clearly with and coordinate between diverse project partners locally and internationally.
• Awareness of diversity and equal opportunity issues, with specific focus on gender equality

Great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Join us at KTH

KTH shapes the future through education, research and innovation. As a leading international technical university, we play an active role in advancing the transition towards a sustainable society. At KTH, you have the opportunity to grow and develop in a creative and dynamic environment, with good working conditions and attractive benefits. Equality, diversity and equal opportunities are essential to quality and form an integral part of KTH’s core values as a university and public authority.

Learn more about our benefits and what it's like to work and grow at KTH.

Trade union representatives

Contact information to trade union representatives.

To apply for the position

Log into KTH's recruitment system to apply for this position. You are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete according to the instructions in the ad.

The application must include:

1. Cover letter (1 page max): Brief account of why you want to conduct research, your academic interests and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals.
2. CV including relevant professional experience and knowledge (4 pages max).
3. Copy of diplomas and grades from your previous university studies. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents have not been issued in any of these languages.
4. Of the highest importance for this position is to write a research proposal (min 4 pages) describing:

• What research questions and method you propose for delivering knowledge, models, approaches, tools and methodologies to better understand hydrological processes at a different scale, in order to respond more efficiently to emerging water issues related to extreme events.
• How you propose to complete the project 
• What makes you suitable for the current project

Your complete application must be received at KTH no later than the last day of application, midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

About the employment

The position offered is for, at the most, two years.

A position as a postdoctoral fellow is a time-limited qualified appointment focusing mainly on research, intended as a first career step after a dissertation.

Others

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It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

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Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.