Arbetsbeskrivning

Postdoc position in urban design and planning, Transition labs Lindholmen and Kronoberg This postdoctoral position offers a unique opportunity to work with research on two ongoing spatial transformation projects in Sweden. The projects situated in two different geographical contexts aim to develop methods for local transformation of the built environment and organisational development. The outcome is expected to be academic publications in high-impact journals and   implemented knowledge that create concrete impact in the local-context. The projects, Geographical transition lab Göteborg Lindholmen and Vägar till Bygatan, Kronoberg, are supported by multi-level institutional frameworks established around the transition labs within the national innovation program of Shift Sweden.  About us  The transition labs in Lindholmen and Kronoberg address how concrete design and transformation projects and prototypes have impact on the multi-level planning praxis from local to national actors. Lindholmen is located along the Göta river in central Gothenburg with focus on sustainable transition of buildings, urban spaces and mobility solutions. Kronoberg is a region in southeast Sweden where focus will be on the possibilities to develop collaboration between national, regional, municipal and local actors to transform local roads to new public spaces. In detail, the research projects will investigate how knowledge production from specific projects and prototypes can be reintegrated into the overarching spatial and strategic transformation process. The research will also address the conditions for more advanced multi-level planning and cross-sectoral approaches, where local, municipal, regional and national actors jointly expand the scope for action and solve complex spatial challenges together. The research projects aim to challenge linear perspectives on societal development by emphasizing continuous change, uncertainty, and adaptability, drawing on design- and practice-oriented methodology and ongoing evaluation research. The work will be carried out at the Division of Urban Design and Planning, in a stimulating research environment with senior researchers, other pos-docs and PhDs, affiliated with the research area Local-Regional Transformations. The research area of Local-Regional Transformations have a well-established position within the research environment of urban and rural research in Sweden and addresses the processes of making the built environment and its places, landscapes, and infrastructures. We combine a geographical and institutional perspective on spatial transformation and work on the intertwined relationships between the local and the regional. On the one hand, this entails the analysis and evaluation of agglomerations, distributions and flows of people and resources, and the ideological formations and norm systems that impact policy, planning and design. On the other hand, it also entails the development of theories and methods that support architects, urban designers, and planners in the process of transforming the built environment. Who we are looking for  The following requirements are mandatory:  • A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree in Architecture, Urban design or planning with focus on urban and/or rural transformation. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made   • Experience in research by design methodologies, action research with public actors and evaluation research The projects require that you can work with local actors in the contexts. Therefore, you need to be able to communicate fluently in Swedish and English, both in oral and written form.  What you will do  As a postdoc, you will be responsible for managing the research projects on a daily basis. You will be working in direct collaboration with the actors that work in the two transition labs, support local transformation processes and engaging in design-oriented actions research. This implies to bring the research process forward independently and lead the writing of scientific articles and reports. The work of will demand that you can visit the project areas frequently and that you are able to meet and engage with different actors in different parts of Sweden. Your findings are expected to be published in high-impact journals, and the methods and data will be made available to researchers and stakeholders through open access. We expect the applicant to be able to take initiatives, adapt, lead and motivate participants in the on-site projects with a clear direction towards the aim of the over-all research projects. The on-site projects involving external actors will be developed together with senior researchers from the Research area of Local-Regional Transformations. Contract terms   The position is a temporary full-time employment for two years with the possibility of a one-year extension.  The position requires physical presence throughout the entire employment. A valid residence permit must be presented by the start date, otherwise the offer may be withdrawn.   Application procedure  The application should be written in English be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.  CV  • A comprehensive CV, including a complete list of publications.  • Details of previous teaching and pedagogical experience.  Personal letter  • A brief introduction about yourself.  • A summary of your previous research fields and key research outcomes.  • An outline of your future goals and research focus.  Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form.   Please note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email will not be considered. Contact details to references will be requested after the interview.  We welcome your application no later than 31 January, 2026. For questions, please contact:  Nils Björling, division of urban design and planning [email protected] +46 733864910   *** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***