Postdoc in the research area of professions in the urban development process

KTH is one of Europe's leading technical universities and an important arena for knowledge development. As Sweden's largest university for technical research and education, we bring together students, researchers, and faculty from all over the world. Our research and education encompass both natural sciences as well as all branches within engineering as well as architecture, industriell ekonomi, samhällsplanering, history, and philosophy.

The Department of Urban and Regional Studies, where the position is located, is a transdisciplinary environment with studies of, among other things, local and regional development in relation to sustainable development, samhällsplanering with a focus on actors and processes, their interaction and collaboration, power aspects, and institutional conditions in urban development.

The research aims at both theory development and improved practices, and often takes place in interaction with the surrounding society.

Urban development processes contain a large number of actors, are regulated by several policy areas, and are characterized by diversity and a complexity with built-in value, goal, and interest conflicts. The professional competencies involved can be found both within the public sector, such as in various municipal administrations and regional bodies, and among private actors.

Within the field, it is investigated how professional roles are significant for the outcomes of planning, and in what ways collaboration is designed and affects the outcome. Specifically, this is investigated in relation to goals for sustainable development. The focus can be on both the development and change of existing environments, on newly created built environments, infrastructure projects, as well as on processes aimed at the preservation of natural and cultural environments. This includes differences depending on policy context and various institutional conditions and investigates, among other things, how conflicts within collaboration affect planning and governance processes, and the importance of value-creating processes in relations to the understanding, based on different professional fields of knowledge, of problem statements, approaches, and desired goal achievement.

The position is linked to several ongoing projects regarding sustainable cities as well as roles and responsibilities within urban development. The position aims to contribute to research on governance processes with a focus on collaboration between professions in relation to complexity and policy implementation.

Tasks

The research within the postdoc position focuses on how the different professions and actors involved in various stages of the urban development process interact and how values are formulated and set against each other, based on different professional knowledge bases, and how this affects the outcomes of urban development as well as sustainable development from social, ecological, and economic aspects.

The position primarily comprises research and includes empirical studies and the writing of scientific articles. The studies may include both Swedish and foreign cases, but should have a focus on Swedish conditions. The work also includes participating in seminars and conferences to present results.

Teaching may be included, up to 20%, at undergraduate and advanced levels.

Participation in the supervision of doctoral students may also be included in the work, and you are expected to actively participate in the academic environment at the Department of Samhällsplanering och miljö.

Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• a doctoral degree in a subject relevant to the area. The doctoral degree must have been awarded no more than three years before the last application date. If there are special reasons, the doctoral degree may have been awarded earlier (e.g., due to illness, parental leave, etc.).
• good knowledge of spoken and written English, and experience in writing scientific texts in English.
• theoretical understanding regarding profession studies and/or actor collaboration.
• basic knowledge of Swedish samhällsplanering.
• good knowledge of commonly occurring qualitative research methods, and previous experience of interview-based studies.
• the ability to plan and conduct research work independently in collaboration with others within given frameworks.
• good communicative ability, an analytical and reflective working method, and the ability to seek support and advice when needed.

Meritorious:

• undergraduate education within the urban development field with a social science, technical, humanistic, or natural science orientation
• previous experience in writing and publishing scientific articles
• previous studies of professions within urban development
• experience of studies and/or work outside Sweden within a relevant area
• very good knowledge of Swedish

Trade union representatives

You can find contact details for trade union representatives on KTH's website.

Application

You apply via KTH's recruitment system. As an applicant, you are primarily responsible for ensuring that your application is complete when submitted.

The application must reach KTH no later than the last application date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

The application shall include:

• CV including relevant professional experiences and knowledge, as well as a publication list
• Copies of degree certificates and transcripts from your previous university studies. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents are not issued in one of these languages.
• A personal letter with a concise account of why you want to conduct research, about your academic interests and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals; max 2 pages
• Contact information for two references. We reserve the right to contact references only for selected candidates.

Other

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