PhD fellowship in Urban Water Management
fuldtid
PhD fellowship in Urban Water Management
PhD Project in Naturebased stormwater management
IGN
Science
University of Copenhagen
Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management invites applicants for a PhD fellowship on the elaboration of strategies and methods for stormwater management in new urban developments with near-zero discharge, i.e. maintaining the local water balance. The working title of the PhD-project is “Near-zero stormwater discharge: Integrating nature-based design and urban planning for sustainable cities”. The project is funded by the Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC). It is a shared project with 2 years of research at University of Copenhagen and 1 year of research at University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), with location at Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences in Beijing.
Start date is 1 December 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The project
This PhD addresses current challenges in urban water management, focusing on the shift from conventional stormwater drainage toward regenerative, water-sensitive urban design. The project will explore innovative planning and design strategies that operationalize the “how to” of transitioning toward Near-Zero Stormwater Discharge cities. Unlike conventional drainage systems that generate runoff, flooding, and ecological harm, the research will emphasize on-site management through evapotranspiration, infiltration, harvesting, treatment and controlled release. Using a combination of hydrological modelling and performance-based design, the project will develop and test prototypes of nature-based interventions. These prototypes will generate empirical data and act as demonstrators, forming the basis for planning tools and replicable models for both new urban developments and retrofitting of existing drainage systems. Beyond their technical role, prototypes will also serve as transition narratives and co-design devices, helping stakeholders envision and negotiate water-sensitive futures. The outcomes will include tested strategies, planning tools, and design principles that bridge technical innovation with social-ecological resilience, positioning water as both an ecological and economic resource for long-term urban development.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates with technical/scientific background, or background in the fields of urban systems and design, or interdisciplinary fields, including: Geosciences/ Physical Geography, Environmental Science, Hydrology/Urban Hydrology, Civil Engineering (with specialization in water resources or urban drainage), Urban Planning/Urban Design, Landscape Architecture (with focus on stormwater and green infrastructure), Architecture (with focus on sustainable water-sensitive design), Environmental Planning, Climate Change Adaptation Studies, Sustainability Science, Natural Resource Management, Ecology (especially urban ecology and ecosystem services).
The ideal candidate has a solid understanding of soil–water–plant interactions, good knowledge of urban water management systems including eco-hydrology and water quality aspects, strong design skills, and the ability to develop innovative, systemic solutions.
Our group and research- and what do we offer?
The position is anchored in the Landscape Technology research group at the Section of Landscape Architecture – Design, located in Copenhagen. We aim to strengthen the scientific foundation for urban landscape interventions and the enhancement of ecosystem services. Our research focuses in particular on innovative nature-based solutions for stormwater management to minimize environmental impacts (e.g., filter soil and dual-porosity filtration), prevent flooding (e.g., pressurized systems promoting evaporation and aboveground detention), and generate co-benefits such as urban heat island mitigation, biodiversity support, zero carbon footprint, and social and economic justice. We also emphasize transition theory as well as cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional knowledge exchange.
We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our facilities include modern laboratories, access to a wide range of software tools, and well-established collaborations with external partners (living labs).
In addition, the position is closely linked to the research group at the State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Beijing, China. The group primarily investigates how climate factors, land use, land cover, landscape patterns, and architectural models jointly affect water and energy balances and hydrological responses in urban regions, integrating field measurement data, remote sensing, GIS tools, and distributed hydrological modeling across multiple spatiotemporal scales.
Principal supervisor is professor Marina Bergen Jensen, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, mbj@ign.ku.dk, Direct Phone +45 27244447.
Co-supervisor is assistant professor Emilia Danuta Lausen, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, UCPH.
Co-supervisor at UCAS is professor Wei Wei, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Beijing.
The PhD programme
The position is offered as a three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), requiring that you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. backgrounds listed above. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.
According to the Partnership agreement between UCAS and the Danish Universities, Chinese citizens (including citizens from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao) are not eligible for PhD positions with co-funding from the Danish SDC office.
Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.
Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Science, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant. If the PhD student chooses to pursue a double degree, it must be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Danish university and UCAS.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.
Responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
Please include:
The deadline for applications is 5 October 2025, 23:59 GMT +1.
We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.
The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.
The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 45.
Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.
[General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/].
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.
IGN
Science
University of Copenhagen
Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management invites applicants for a PhD fellowship on the elaboration of strategies and methods for stormwater management in new urban developments with near-zero discharge, i.e. maintaining the local water balance. The working title of the PhD-project is “Near-zero stormwater discharge: Integrating nature-based design and urban planning for sustainable cities”. The project is funded by the Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC). It is a shared project with 2 years of research at University of Copenhagen and 1 year of research at University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), with location at Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences in Beijing.
Start date is 1 December 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The project
This PhD addresses current challenges in urban water management, focusing on the shift from conventional stormwater drainage toward regenerative, water-sensitive urban design. The project will explore innovative planning and design strategies that operationalize the “how to” of transitioning toward Near-Zero Stormwater Discharge cities. Unlike conventional drainage systems that generate runoff, flooding, and ecological harm, the research will emphasize on-site management through evapotranspiration, infiltration, harvesting, treatment and controlled release. Using a combination of hydrological modelling and performance-based design, the project will develop and test prototypes of nature-based interventions. These prototypes will generate empirical data and act as demonstrators, forming the basis for planning tools and replicable models for both new urban developments and retrofitting of existing drainage systems. Beyond their technical role, prototypes will also serve as transition narratives and co-design devices, helping stakeholders envision and negotiate water-sensitive futures. The outcomes will include tested strategies, planning tools, and design principles that bridge technical innovation with social-ecological resilience, positioning water as both an ecological and economic resource for long-term urban development.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates with technical/scientific background, or background in the fields of urban systems and design, or interdisciplinary fields, including: Geosciences/ Physical Geography, Environmental Science, Hydrology/Urban Hydrology, Civil Engineering (with specialization in water resources or urban drainage), Urban Planning/Urban Design, Landscape Architecture (with focus on stormwater and green infrastructure), Architecture (with focus on sustainable water-sensitive design), Environmental Planning, Climate Change Adaptation Studies, Sustainability Science, Natural Resource Management, Ecology (especially urban ecology and ecosystem services).
The ideal candidate has a solid understanding of soil–water–plant interactions, good knowledge of urban water management systems including eco-hydrology and water quality aspects, strong design skills, and the ability to develop innovative, systemic solutions.
Our group and research- and what do we offer?
The position is anchored in the Landscape Technology research group at the Section of Landscape Architecture – Design, located in Copenhagen. We aim to strengthen the scientific foundation for urban landscape interventions and the enhancement of ecosystem services. Our research focuses in particular on innovative nature-based solutions for stormwater management to minimize environmental impacts (e.g., filter soil and dual-porosity filtration), prevent flooding (e.g., pressurized systems promoting evaporation and aboveground detention), and generate co-benefits such as urban heat island mitigation, biodiversity support, zero carbon footprint, and social and economic justice. We also emphasize transition theory as well as cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional knowledge exchange.
We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our facilities include modern laboratories, access to a wide range of software tools, and well-established collaborations with external partners (living labs).
In addition, the position is closely linked to the research group at the State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Beijing, China. The group primarily investigates how climate factors, land use, land cover, landscape patterns, and architectural models jointly affect water and energy balances and hydrological responses in urban regions, integrating field measurement data, remote sensing, GIS tools, and distributed hydrological modeling across multiple spatiotemporal scales.
Principal supervisor is professor Marina Bergen Jensen, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, mbj@ign.ku.dk, Direct Phone +45 27244447.
Co-supervisor is assistant professor Emilia Danuta Lausen, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, UCPH.
Co-supervisor at UCAS is professor Wei Wei, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Beijing.
The PhD programme
The position is offered as a three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), requiring that you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. backgrounds listed above. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.
According to the Partnership agreement between UCAS and the Danish Universities, Chinese citizens (including citizens from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao) are not eligible for PhD positions with co-funding from the Danish SDC office.
Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.
Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Science, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant. If the PhD student chooses to pursue a double degree, it must be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Danish university and UCAS.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.
Responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme
- Carry through an independent research project under supervision
- Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
- Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution
- Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
- Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
- Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project
- Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
- Relevant publications
- Relevant work experience
- Other relevant professional activities
- Good language skills
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
Please include:
- Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
- Your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project
- Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
- Original diplomas for Bachelor or Master and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
- Publication list (if possible)
- Reference letters (if available)
The deadline for applications is 5 October 2025, 23:59 GMT +1.
We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.
The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.
The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 45.
Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.
[General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/].
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.