Project proposal

Urban Value Ecosystem

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim represents academic eminence in technology and the natural sciences as well as in other academic disciplines ranging from the social sciences, the arts, medicine, teacher education, architecture to fine art. Cross-disciplinary cooperation results in innovative breakthroughs and creative solutions with far-reaching social and economic impact.

We are looking for a Postdoc/Experienced Researcher candidate interested in applying for an MSCA Individual Fellowship at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,  https://www.ntnu.no/ibm. The NTNU is interested to work on the project ‘Urban Value Ecosystem’.  The research is focused on the interaction between occupants/citizens’ health, wellbeing (HWB) and lifestyles in the urban spaces, with the aim to start interventions, which support the reduction of urban lifestyle diseases and sick building syndromes. This includes environmental hazards, thermal comfort, social safety, resilience, health and well-being. Such challenges are particularly prevalent for women, older adults and youth. The particular interest is on social, physical and psychological well-being (e.g. depression, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal problems, respiratory diseases, stress, sedentarism and unstable mood). The project is underpinned by the social determinants of health model that considers a hierarchy of factors from personal/genetic to social/community and structural/societal that influence individual health outcomes.

Within the project, the special attention is on developing a Digital Services Eco-System tool (DSES), enabling the integration between the social, cultural and nature-based solution (NBS). This digital solution will integrate an iterative approach to the design of the urban space, and comprise sensing infrastructure, digital services platform and human computer interaction devices. DSES should be developed as a monitoring system and analyzing tool (objective and subjective evaluation), pooling the data across the cases/interventions, statistically analyzing them for monitoring and evaluation, and to develop new insights about NBS and HWB. This will enable the future replicability of models. The integration between the digital services and the other dimensions will be done by an IoT infrastructure and the analytics services that provide social and cultural indicators on the use of the public space.

Suitable background (doctoral degree) of the applicants would be within Building engineering/ Urbanism and Architecture/ IT Engineering and similar. The applicant is expected to carry out theoretical development and extensive research work. Good co­operation abilities with actors from different disciplines will be emphasized. Knowledge and experience in the fields of subjective evaluation, co-creation processes and tools will be highly valued. Knowledge of the digital technologies used in construction and urban development (IES, BIM, GIS, IoT) is also beneficial.

The position reports to Professor Alenka Temeljotov-Salaj.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Qualitative and quantitative research
• Reporting and Scientific publication

Qualification requirements

Eligibility criteria

• The researcher must, at the date of the MSCA-IF call deadline, possess a PhD Degree and/or an equivalent on minimum four years´ full-time research experience.
• The researcher must, at the date of the MSCA-IF call deadline not have conducted his/her main activity in the country of the beneficiary (Norway) for more than 12 of the last 36 months.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language

Other qualifications

• Good knowledge of Architectural Engineering field
• Good knowledge of sustainable principles
• Relevant experience in co-creation processes and subjective evaluation
• Good understanding of the connection between technology, process and human interaction
• Good cooperation abilities with actors from different disciplines
• Good communication skills including with non-expert stakeholders
• Good digital solutions skills (IES, BIM, GIS, IoT)
• Broad research experiences
• Excellent oral and written presentation abilities in English

Personal characteristics

• Team worker
• Innovation driven
• Creative
• Strong ability to take initiative

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, selection will be conducted by the supervisor. Emphasis will be placed upon the academic accordance with the supervisor and the project proposal.

We offer

• A designated supervisor with whom to prepare an application for the MSCA-IF call
• A two-day symposium with showcasing of expertise and best practices on how to apply to MSCA-IF
• A follow-up day with the supervisor and possible individual guidance by experts on MSCA-IF
• Administrative support up to the call deadline
• Travel and accommodation from the 13-15th of May 2020 will be covered by NTNU

Conditions

Appointment as post doc up to a maximum of 24 months at NTNU rests on the prerequisite of an approved application to the MSCA-IF call with deadline 9 September 2020. Feedback on said applications is expected early 2021.

General information

Working at NTNU

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. Under the Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova), information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to have their name entered on the list of applicants.

Questions about the call can be directed to: msca@horizon.ntnu.no or andreas.mollerlokken@ntnu.no

Questions about the project can be directed to prof. Alenka Temeljotov Salaj, phone number +47 464 45 072, e-mail alenka.temeljotov-salaj@ntnu.no 

About the application:

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, cover letter, diplomas and certificates that highlight the alignment of your application. In addition, the applicant must describe a research project that will strengthen and complement the presented research (max 2 pages).

Please refer to the application number IV/01 when applying.

Publications and other academic works that the applicant would like to be considered in the evaluation must accompany the application. Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify the individual applicant's contribution to joint works, the applicant must include a brief description of his or her contribution.

Application deadline: 09.03.2020

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

We conduct research and teaching in civil and transportation engineering, technical planning, structural engineering, water and wastewater engineering and hydraulic engineering. Graduates from our programmes become employees – in both the public and private sectors – with a sustainability mindset combined with competitive knowledge and skills. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

Deadline 9th March 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Project
Place of service NTNU Trondheim