PhD Position in Architectural Research: Urban Social Resilience, Circularity, and Building Heritage Aalborg University in Denmark

The Technical Faculty of IT and Design at Aalborg University, Department of Architecture, Design, and Media Technology, is offering a PhD position in Architectural Research. This opportunity focuses on the intersection of people, places, and building practices to foster resilient urban ecosystems. The position is embedded within the PhD program Media, Architecture & Design and is part of a new interdisciplinary research initiative addressing Urban Social Resilience, with special emphasis on care ethics, participatory processes, and social innovation.

The successful candidate will join a dynamic research environment, collaborating closely with a Postdoc and another PhD student across the Department of Architecture, Design & Media Technology and the Department of Sustainability & Planning. The research network spans sustainability, planning, urban design, architecture, and industrial design, offering broad engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.

This PhD project tackles the challenge of integrating urban heritage and building transformation with strategies for urban resilience. Traditionally, urban resilience research has focused on environmental and technological aspects, often neglecting social vulnerabilities and the affective involvement of local communities. The project aims to foreground social resilience, exploring relationships between people and space, and experimenting with citizen engagement and local ownership. Research may include investigating how adaptive design influences emotional attachment and social interdependence throughout a building’s lifespan, especially during changes in function, ownership, or inhabitants.

The overarching goal is to examine circularity, connecting building practices to people and places, and opening up the realm of social interactions, rituals, habits, values, and ethical commitments. Candidates are expected to develop a preliminary research proposal (1–3 pages) outlining their research focus, design, and methodology within urban social resilience and building design. The empirical context is open, allowing applicants to propose urban settings such as neighborhoods undergoing transformation, historic city centers, post-industrial areas, housing estates, or public spaces where care, repair, reuse, and social interaction can be explored.

Applicants should have a MSc in architecture, sustainable design, or related fields, with strong qualitative research skills. Interest in circularity, adaptive reuse, building heritage, social sustainability, universal design, or care ethics is essential. Experience in interdisciplinary environments and collaboration with community or practice partners is advantageous. The position offers opportunities for scholarly publication, public communication, teaching, and involvement in Aalborg University’s architecture and planning programs.

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals holding a Master's degree and are normally for a period of 3 years. Enrollment at the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design is required, with completion of PhD courses (30 ECTS), teaching or knowledge dissemination, and an external research stay (3–6 months) at a foreign institution. Salary and terms of employment follow the AC collective agreement. The position is full-time (37 hours/week) and includes a 3-month probationary period.

To apply, submit your application via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, including a CV, diplomas, and a preliminary research proposal. The application portal is accessible under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website. Shortlisting will be applied after the deadline, and all applicants will be informed of their status. For further information, contact Lea Holst Laursen ([email protected]) or Annemarie Davidsen ([email protected]).

Aalborg University is a leading research and educational environment in Denmark, integrating creativity, engineering, and technology within architecture, urban design, industrial design, digital design, and interactive media. The university values diversity and encourages applications from all backgrounds.