PhD scholarship in Permafrost Engineering - DTU Sustain

PhD position in the field of Arctic Infrastructure and permafrost engineering. The study is part of the EU Horizon Europe ILLUQ project and will be responsible for fieldwork and activities in Greenland. Workplace will be at the DTU Campus in Sisimiut.
The Geotechnics and Geology Section at DTU Sustain is engaged in studying permafrost impacts on critical infrastructure in the Arctic. A three-year PhD scholarship is offered in this context, with the objective of cataloguing critical infrastructure in three Arctic study areas and providing a first estimate of the general risk to infrastructure from permafrost thaw. The work will also comprise site specific investigations of particular infrastructure constructions in Greenland, with a focus on monitoring changes, modelling future impacts, and proposing adaptation actions. The work will be carried out as part of the ILLUQ project, supported by the EU Horizon Europe programme, and in collaboration with Greenland stakeholders.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your overall focus will be to strengthen our competencies in permafrost engineering with a focus on critical infrastructure systems in and around Greenland communities. You will work with nearby colleagues, and with both academic and industrial partners in Greenland as well as abroad. You will do archive studies and interviews with locals and stakeholders, establish sensor networks in remote locations, and use the collected data as basis for numerical and/or statistical modelling.

It will be your responsibility also to fulfil the obligations defined by DTU Sustain’s PhD school, i.e., write journal articles, conference papers, and a final dissertation; engage in research dissemination activities; deliver half-year progress reports; take courses; perform department work (e.g., classroom teaching, laboratory demonstrations, grading of student projects); and participate in an external stay at another research institution.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. Moreover, your academic background needs to be relevant to the above-stated project objectives, e.g., civil engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, and applied mathematics.

You need to have a proven ability to work independently and, in a group, possess excellent written and spoken English skills, and display professional communication skills. Due to the nature of the work to be carried out in Greenland, Nordic language skills are a necessity, and experience with fieldwork under Arctic conditions is considered a benefit.

The main work place for this position will be at the DTU campus in Sisimiut, Greenland.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

The position is a full-time position. Start date is January 1st, 2025 (or according to mutual agreement).

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Thomas Ingeman-Nielsen ([email protected]), Section for Geotechnics and Geology, DTU Sustain.

You can read more about DTU Sustain at www.sustain.dtu.dk

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 30 September 2024 (23:59 Danish time).

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Sustain - Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering - is one of the largest university departments specializing in environmental and resource engineering in Europe. The department conducts research, development & scientific advice and provides educational programs and service to society. We are working to develop new environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, methods and solutions, and to disseminate this knowledge to society and future generations of engineers. The Department has approximately 300 staff from more than 30 nationalities.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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