PhD position - Bridging Adaptive Planning and Human-Centred Design Strategies

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NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

   

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About the position

Are you motivated to explore how adaptive planning and human-centred design can come together to make climate change adaptation equitable and inclusive? As a PhD Candidate at the Department of Architecture and Planning, you will work towards achieving your doctorate alongside motivated colleagues working to solve pressing urban planning challenges in diverse Global North and South contexts through transdisciplinary means. In addition to academic training in research skills a close engagement with societal stakeholders, you will also gain experience within a highly relevant field for practice, which holds professional value. This means that the position can further your career in higher education and research, but also in industry.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About the project

PhD position for the topic ‘Bridging Adaptive Planning and Human-Centred Design Strategies to Address Climate Change Adaptation for Vulnerable Neighbourhoods and Groups’

Climate Change Adaptation for vulnerable urban neighbourhoods and communities is one of the most urgent issues researchers, governments and policymakers have highlighted in recent decades. While climate change adaptation has begun to recognise the heterogeneity and existing vulnerabilities in the built environment and society, frameworks and tools for harnessing community agency and including the interests of the most vulnerable are still generic. Recent studies recommend addressing climate change adaptation through multi-scalar adaptive planning combined with human-centred design approaches. Methodologically, adaptive planning relies on top-down, expert-driven decision-making, with an unclear role and agency for local communities. In contrast, human-centred design approaches rely heavily on community-oriented problem formulation and needs-based design, yet these are often not anchored well amongst actors involved in spatial planning. Limited studies systematically combine methods and insights from these diverse approaches, and an evidence-based spatial and visual methodology for decision-making at various scales is therefore lacking. This methodological gap is evident in climate change adaptation studies in the Global North and South. This PhD project, therefore, will formulate a context-specific and integrated methodology for addressing climate change adaptation and human-centred design in vulnerable neighbourhoods by combining qualitative and GIS-based mapping, community-oriented visual design engagement methods, and stakeholder analysis at multiple scales and in diverse contexts. This proposal addresses the lack of comparative, empirically grounded studies in flood-prone, low-income neighbourhoods. It will examine adaptive planning combined with a human-centred approach across the Global North and South, giving the research a wider relevance and impact. 

This PhD project builds on two principal theoretical domains: adaptive planning and human-centred design in the context for preparedness for climate change. Insights from diverse global North and South contexts will strengthen the interrelations between the above-mentioned theoretical frameworks and enable building on valuable scholarship from both contexts.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
• Carry out advanced academic research within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate proactively in the following research, network and education groups as part of the 1-year career-enhancing work: Adaptation thematic group (funded by NTNU strategic area Civil Security), and  Gemini Centre 'Equitable Partnerships for Global Impact'.
•  Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Teaching and supervision of master students in the program in Urban Planning at Department of Architecture and Planning and the Humanitarian Design Course in The Department of Design

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a relevant master’s degree in urban planning, Industrial design or equivalent. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position, and no later than 31st December 2025.
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme in Architecture.
• Experience with fieldwork/professional (including internships)/educational experience in the African/Asian context
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English.

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Relevant work/volunteering experience in urban planning/design offices, or humanitarian organisations
• Skills in visualising and analysing spatial data. 
• Experience in participatory and human-centred design
• Have fieldwork experience in diverse contexts and thrive in multi-cultural environments. 

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are : 

• Independent and show willingness to learn
• Flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed
• Proactive and appreciate constructive feedback
• Able to work constructively and adapt under pressure 
• Curious and have a strong motivation for your research
• A good communicator and a team player
• Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open, diverse and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues at the Department of Architecture and Planning, as well as a collegial PhD community through the PhD program in Architecture. 
• Research fund that can be used to implement the project
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. 

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. 

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The employment period is 4 years. 3 years for the doctoral work in addition to 1 year of career promotion work. (A minimum of three work years of the total term period must be dedicated to doctoral work.)

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out the period of employment.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in English. 

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV 
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Research proposal outlining an overall description of research questions, theoretical perspectives, potential case studies (1 from the Global North and 1 from the Global South), methodological design for the project, and progress plan (maximum 1500 words/4 pages excluding references) 
• Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page)
• Portfolio with 2-5 projects showcasing relevant research, visualisation and education skills and experience
• Names and contact information of three relevant referees.

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both Bachelor's and Master's education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint work will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions, and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.

The candidate will be supervised by Rolee Aranya (Professor, Department of Architecture and Planning), Mrudhula Koshy (Associate Professor, Department of Architecture and Planning) and Brita Fladvad Nielsen (Associate Professor, Department of Design). If you have any questions about the position, please contact Rolee Aranya (Professor, Department of Architecture and Planning), email: rolee.aranya@ntnu.no. 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Astrid Lyngby (Advisor, Faculty of Architecture and Design) e-mail: astrid.s.lyngby@ntnu.no).

Application deadline: 05.01.2026

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 
 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.