Søren Kerndrup

Aalborg University is advertising a PhD position in Urban Social Resilience within Sustainability and Planning at the Department of Sustainability and Planning, linked to the Planning for Urban Sustainability (PLUS) research group and broader interdisciplinary work with CREATE and related research environments. The project focuses on urban resilience from a systemic and planning-oriented perspective, with attention to the dynamic relationships between people, places, and material environments. The research agenda connects sustainability and planning , urban planning , urban design , design thinking , circularity , and social innovation , and encourages socio-material, participatory, and co-design/co-production approaches. Possible research directions include mapping actor landscapes, studying how social actors and communities contribute to resilience-building, developing methods and tools for transformation processes, examining climate- and nature-based interventions as catalysts for resilience, and analysing public spaces and neighbourhoods as arenas for urban social resilience. The empirical context is open, and applicants are invited to propose the city or urban setting they want to study. Eligibility: applicants must hold a Master’s degree in sustainability and planning, urban studies, sustainability and design, geography, or a related field. Experience with qualitative, participatory, and design-oriented methods is an advantage. The call also expects a preliminary 1–3 page research proposal and a clear fit with interdisciplinary research on urban social resilience. Funding and terms: the position is a 3-year PhD stipend at Aalborg University, with standard Danish employment conditions. The post includes PhD coursework (30 ECTS), teaching or dissemination experience, and an external research stay outside Aalborg University, preferably 3–6 months abroad. Deadline: 5 May 2026. Applications must be submitted through Aalborg University’s recruitment system on the job advertisement page.

Aalborg University is advertising two PhD positions in the interdisciplinary theme of Urban Social Resilience , one hosted in the Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology and one in the Department of Sustainability and Planning . The positions sit within a new research initiative that brings together architecture , urban planning , design , and sustainability studies to examine how resilience is socially constituted in cities. The research agenda highlights care ethics , participatory processes , social innovation , co-design , and co-production as key frameworks. The architecture-oriented project focuses on the relationship between people, places, and building practices, with special attention to building heritage , adaptive reuse , circularity , and social sustainability. The planning-oriented project focuses on how social actors, relations, and practices gain agency in resilience-building processes through inclusive and collaborative planning approaches. Applicants are expected to hold a Master’s degree in architecture, sustainable design, sustainability and planning, urban studies, geography, or a related field. Strong qualitative research skills are important, and experience with participatory, design-oriented, or co-production methods is an advantage. For both positions, applicants must prepare a 1–3 page preliminary research proposal and, for the planning post, briefly describe the urban context they want to study. The university also expects PhD candidates to be enrolled at the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design, complete PhD coursework, teach or disseminate knowledge, and undertake an external research stay abroad. The positions are full-time PhD stipends for 3 years and are available from 15 August 2026 . The application deadline is 5 May 2026 . Applications must be submitted through Aalborg University’s recruitment system via the job advertisement on the university website.

Aalborg University is offering a fully funded PhD position in Sustainability and Planning Research, with a focus on urban social resilience from a systemic and planning-oriented perspective. The project explores the dynamic relationships between people, places, and material environments, and is part of a new interdisciplinary thematic research initiative addressing Urban Social Resilience. Key guiding perspectives include care ethics, participatory processes, and social innovation. The successful candidate will join a vibrant 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 position also provides access to a wider research network spanning sustainability, planning, urban design, architecture, and industrial design. The PhD project aims to address the challenge of developing urban social resilience in cities, focusing on how social actors, relations, and practices can gain agency in resilience-building processes through inclusive, collaborative, participatory, and planning-based approaches. The research is grounded in a socio-material planning and design perspective, where urban resilience is seen as an emergent quality produced through interactions between social dynamics, institutional frameworks, and material and spatial configurations. Potential research activities include mapping and analysing actor landscapes, investigating methods and tools for facilitating urban transformation, analysing the mobilisation of social actors and communities, exploring climate- and nature-based interventions as catalysts for social resilience, and studying the development of public spaces as arenas for resilience-building. The project may adopt various disciplinary perspectives and methodological approaches within urban social resilience and planning, and is expected to further develop the research environment’s work with socio-material approaches, participatory and interactive planning, co-design, and co-production. Applicants are expected to submit a preliminary research proposal (1–3 pages) outlining their initial research focus, design, and methodology. The empirical context is open, allowing candidates to propose urban contexts for their research. To be eligible, applicants must hold a Master’s degree in sustainability and planning, urban studies, sustainability and design, geography, or a related discipline. Experience with qualitative, participatory, and design-oriented research methods—including co-design or co-production—is highly valued. The ideal candidate is motivated to work in interdisciplinary environments and collaborate with a wide range of urban stakeholders, including planners, designers, and public sector actors. Curiosity, independence, and initiative are essential qualities. The position offers a dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment, opportunities for scholarly publication, public communication, teaching, and involvement in Aalborg University’s planning and urban design programmes. The PhD stipend is for three years and includes salary, tuition, and support for research activities. Enrollment at the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design is required, along with completion of PhD courses (30 ECTS), teaching experience, and an external research stay (3–6 months) at a foreign institution. Applications must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system. Required documents include a statement of motivation, CV, diplomas, project description, and other relevant materials. The university values diversity and encourages applications from all backgrounds. The assessment process includes shortlisting and may involve a risk assessment. For questions, contact Søren Kerndrup or Lisbeth Diinhoff. Deadline for applications is 15 August 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the official vacancy link.