PhD scholarship in “Impact of Architecture on Epidemics” at The Royal Danish Academy of...

The PhD scholarship is posted in the following project: “Effekter af arkitektur på epidemier” / “Impact of Architecture on Epidemics”

KADK’s Institute for Architecture and Technology (IBT) is looking for applications for a new PhD position in “Impact of Architecture on Epidemics”. The PhD will be associated with IBTs research efforts on architecture and health which are led by Head of School Jakob Brandtberg Knudsen and enrolled at the KADK PhD School.

PhD focus

Focus for the PhD position is the impact of Architecture on Epidemics. The impact we wish to see identified, mapped and mobilized in relation to future disease outbreaks and epidemics can be direct or indirect. Architectural actions can be identified on a variety of scales, from the individual to societal, from behavioural design, the design of a bathroom or the design and planning of cities. Further, impact can be identified in different cultures and environments, where density of population and resource-allocation, but also broader political, social and cultural factors can influence the spread of infection.

The spread of infectious diseases are closely linked to patterns of humane mobility and social interaction. The architecture of buildings and settlements is therefore hugely influential in regard to the spread of infections, both in regard to prevention and containment strategies. In the course of an epidemic, disruptions in the build environment can be observed as the population change the way they act and preventive actions (both planned and improvised) are enacted. This includes both the closing of infrastructure, workplaces and institutions, transformation of buildings to novel use and the emptying of public space.

By identifying and mapping how architecture historically has impacted, enabled or prevented the spread of contagious diseases and epidemics, we ask how architecture interact with and impact the spread of contagious diseases today.

Research location

The position will be situated at the KADK campus in Copenhagen at the IBT institute and associated with IBTs research efforts on architecture and health which are led by Head of School Jakob Brandtberg Knudsen.

The PhD will be associated with the UIA2023Cph. research network. The UIA2023Cph. research network is supporting the UIA world conference “Sustainable Futures” which is to be held in Copenhagen in 2023. The network will provide a research study framework structured around research led workshop seminars and common colloquia. The PhD student is expected to take part in and support these events.

Institute of Architecture and Technology

The vision of the Institute of Architecture and Technology is to support, promote and attract research into the area between architecture and technology. In this context, the Institute focuses on sustainable development of the building industry, tectonics, fabrication and industrialization of architectural processes, architecture and health, innovation in construction, material properties and performance, digital technologies and their relationship to architecture. The Institute’s objective is to conduct research into these and related fields, which challenge the current relationship between architecture, technology and society. With an interdisciplinary approach, we engage with a large network of academic and industry partners as a foundation for research: from sturdiness in the context of threatened environments to new materials. We conduct research into subjects, which contribute to the sustainable development of the built environments, on a humane as well as environmental level. The Institute of Architecture and Technology offers three graduate programs and one undergraduate program, together with cross-curricular elements within the School of Architecture and KADK, including KADK’s PhD School. On this basis, the Institute of Architecture and Technology aims to be a leading national and international setting for critical understanding and skills development in the area between architecture and technology.

Read more about the Institute of Architecture and Technology, its programs, research and artistic development projects at www.kadk.dk.

Researcher’s eligibility criteria

A Master’s degree in architecture or other degree of equivalent level is required.

Terms of employment

Enrolment takes place with a view to obtain a PhD degree, and leads to salaried employment for a period of three years in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations, AC, protocol on graduate fellowships (annex 5). The salary consists of a seniority-based base salary and a non-pensionable allowance.

The PhD program is structured under the provisions of Ministerial Order on the PhD program at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions (PhD Order) no. 1039 of 27 August 2013 issued by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education regarding PhD programs and PhD degrees. This executive order is available on the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture’s website (https://kadk.dk/en/regulatory-basis).

If you have completed a degree abroad, it will be assessed by the Danish Agency for International Education before employment can take place. Practical information can be found at http://ufm.dk/en/education-and-institutions/recognition-and-transparency/recognition-guide.

Application requirements

There are no application forms. Applications must be written in Danish or English.

Applications are submitted electronically and must include:

• A reflection on the stated architectural aims of the project in the form of proposed theoretical orientations, comparison to existing research, preliminary syllabus and a proposal of the principle methods to be employed in project development (max. 5 regular standard pages).
• CV.
• Documentation of educational merits, other qualifications and previous activities.
• A list of published papers/publications (if applicable).
• A list of anticipated publications and dissemination venues for the project.
• A portfolio of previous works and studies completed.

Please submit applications following the link below no later than 1 May 2020 at 12.00 noon.

For further information about the application requirements, please contact Ditte Dahl by telephone at +45 4170 1532 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Anyone who meets the requirement of an academic degree at a graduate level is encouraged to apply for the scholarship regardless of age, gender, race, religion or ethnicity.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk