Postdoc fellowships: A circular building sector: Policies and regulations - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The 2030 Agenda is the framework for sustainable development that the world’s nations have signed to end extreme poverty, reduce inequalities, solve the climate crisis, promote peace and equity and much more. In order to achieve the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, research has several important roles: to identify challenges and conflicting objectives, contribute to new solutions, generate dialogue and learning between different societal stakeholders and critically analyse the goals. Lund University aspires to be a part of the solution and has therefore initiated a research programme on sustainable development with postdoc fellowships in various interdisciplinary projects. The projects will not only constitute platforms for the postdocs’ career development, but also form a basis for national and European applications, and for future environments for excellence and profiling. The programme is also to develop the postdocs’ expertise in teaching and learning in higher education. More information on the research programme is available here:  https://www.sustainability.lu.se/researchers/available-positions

We now welcome applicants who want to take an active role in 2030 Agenda research to apply for the postdoc fellowships.

Project-specific information

The building industry has a major impact on the global carbon emissions, the use of natural resources and production of waste. A drastic change is needed for this industry to be a part of a sustainable future. If building materials could be re-used instead of newly produced, the environmental impact is much reduced. This seems easy, but the building sector is heavily regulated. There is a great will to re- use materials, but there are obstacles that create risks, often to such an extent that one abstains.

By creating a strong interdisciplinary research environment that takes on these obstacles and perform independent research, we wish to enable a movement towards a more circular building sector. Within this project interdisciplinary research project, involving four postdocs and senior researchers at LU, we focus on the following four research questions: Policies and regulations, Responsibilities and forms of contract, Financial models and marketing and District heating and waste targets. Having a team of different researchers working together, we enable post-doc students to get supervision from many perspectives. These research questions are a part of a larger context, where we wish to establish a competence centre for a circular building industry at Lund University. Within this centre, knowledge is shared between the academia, the local communities, and the building industry.

Subject description

The building industry has a major impact on the global carbon emissions, the use of natural resources and production of waste. A drastic change is needed for this industry to be a part of a sustainable future. If building materials could be re-used instead of newly produced, the environmental impact is much reduced. This seems easy, but the building sector is heavily regulated. There is a great will to re- use materials, but there are obstacles that create risks, often to such an extent that one abstains.

By creating a strong interdisciplinary research environment that takes on these obstacles and perform independent research, we wish to enable a movement towards a more circular building sector. Within this project interdisciplinary research project, involving four postdocs and senior researchers at LU, we focus on the following four research questions: Policies and regulations, Responsibilities and forms of contract, Financial models and marketing and District heating and waste targets. Having a team of different researchers working together, we enable post-doc students to get supervision from many perspectives. These research questions are a part of a larger context, where we wish to establish a competence centre for a circular building industry at Lund University. Within this centre, knowledge is shared between the academia, the local communities, and the building industry.

The postdoc in A circular building sector : Policies and regulations will focus on the following:

The EU ́s Circular economy (CE) policies and initiatives’ effects on the building industry.  Evaluation of particular EU regulations, e.g. European Construction Products Regulation, and how it needs to adapt to be used on re-used building materials. CE multi-level policy mix; considering local and national variations and harmonization for upscaling reuse of building materials.

The studies on regulations such as  the Construction Products Regulation, CE-policies and policy instruments on the national and local level will first be made with a general perspective but also with case studies on specific materials. These materials will be chosen based on certain parameters such as climate impact and the volume used in building projects. By using certain materials as a base in the study, specific barriers and implementable solutions can be analysed.

Work duties

The main duties involved in a post-doctoral posistion is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position shall include the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning.

Qualification requirements

Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position, completed no more than three years before the last date for applications. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in Swedish.

Assessment criteria and other qualifications

This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Teaching skills.

Additional assessment criteria:

In the field of research ability:

• Demonstrated experience in research related to the subject
• Experience of publishing in recognised research journals
• Demonstrated research skills in systematic literature reviews, gathering empirical materials (interviews, surveys, focus groups and workshops)
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary, inclusive and international research team
• Ability to engage with industry and wider society
• Dempnstrated experience in working with research impact

In the field of teaching ability:

• Experience of teaching on site and remotely
• Experience of teaching courses in an interdisciplinary environment
• Experience of teaching courses in an international classroom

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment
This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of a maximum of 2 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S, OFR/S and SEKO, dated 4 September 2008.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English. Please draw up the application in accordance with LTH’s Academic qualifications portfolio – see link below. Upload the application as PDF-files in the recruitment system. Read more:

http://www.lth.se/english/working-at-lth/to-apply-for-academic-positions-at-lth/