Do you want to be part of the circular revolution to rethink the way we value the built environment? Join us as a fully-funded PhD in the MSCA doctoral network QuiVal- Quantum Inspired Valuation of Circular Real Estate (https://quival-research.eu/ ).

The SDU Life Cycle Engineering at the Department of Green Technology, University of Southern Denmark, invites applications for a Fully Funded three-year PhD in multi-level material cycles and market dynamics, in the MSCA Doctoral Network QuiVal, where we learn, ideate and reimagine real estate value and valuation practices by drawing inspiration from quantum theories.

The position is is available from March 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.  

Project overview

In order to make our cities more circular, we need to fundamentally revisit the way that we define and quantify the value of our built environment. This fully funded PhD project is part of a Marie Sklodowska Curie Action Doctoral Network, QuiVal, a programme funded by the European Union with the aim to develop a fundamentally new approach to real estate valuation, allowing the sector to rapidly transition towards a more sustainable, low carbon and circular future. This will be achieved through a transdisciplinary PhD training programme across 8 universities and 14 industry partners, and including 13 PhD students who will work, together and separately, to rethink the philosophy, principles and processes of valuation. 

The programme is transdisciplinary and co-produced by leading academics and practitioners who are passionate and knowledgeable about the real estate industry and about sustainability. Five objectives have been developed through which to achieve the aim, and each PhD project will respond to one of these objectives. 

PhD Topic Description

The PhD project at University of Southern Denmark is part of the response to the third objective, ‘Value of the building that is mobile’. The valuation of building materials is crucial, and complex because of the volatility of building material markets. 

This project will explore how the material cycles (e.g., production, manufacturing, use, and end-of-life management) and market dynamics (e.g., demand and supply of scrap in the building and non-building sectors) will affect the value of demounted building material. For example, fast-growing steel scrap from the transport sector will influence the supply and thus market economics of building steel recycling. 

This project will develop a holistic assessment framework considering the synergy between the building sector and other sectors based on full material cycles and market dynamics. This approach will be used for key representative building materials (e.g., steel, copper, timber, and aggregates) used in the construction sector to identify the most feasible and sustainable material recovery pathways. 

This project aims at developing a holistic method to assess and identify the recycling and reuse pathways of building materials considering the full material cycles and market dynamics. Incorporating quantum-inspired methodologies will enable a more nuanced understanding of the probabilistic and interconnected nature of market dynamics and material cycles. As well as a dissertation, and a number of academic papers, the project will produce an accessible report for real estate professionals.

The PhD student will spend the majority of the funded three years at University of Southern Denmark in Odense, Denmark, but will also be funded for two periods on secondment to QuiVal partners, one to industry partner Circue and the other to university partner University of West England in Bristol, United Kingdom. There will also be significant opportunities for sharing knowledge and fostering discussions with the other 12 PhD students, through five workshops and three summer schools. 

The PhD students will also work together to collect data and collaborate with stakeholders including a network of industry frontrunners who are partners in the programme, increasing understanding, research impact, and chances of employment in the real estate and related sectors.

What we expect
You will be embedded in the QuiVal community. For your role in research project 3b, we are looking for a PhD student who has:

• An MSc degree in a relevant field such as computer science, data science, industrial ecology, environmental management, sustainable design, with a focus on resource management & recycling and environmental sustainability.

• Proficiency in English speaking, reading and writing.

• Strong analytical and methodological skills, with proven experience in one of the following: material flow analysis (MFA), system dynamics (SD), life cycle assessment (LCA), tech-economic analysis, accounting and evaluation (preferred).

• Ability to work with large datasets and proficiency in data analysis software (preferably Python, though experience with R, MATLAB or others will also be considered an advantage).

• Strong communication skills with experience in scientific writing and presenting research to diverse audiences.

• Able to lead in research and involve the research team and industrial partners in knowledge co-creation and sharing activities.

• Creativity and openness to designing and applying innovative research approaches for circular economy challenges are considered a benefit!

• A strong motivation for research and the ability to work persistently on complex challenges are considered assets.

This vacancy follows the recruitment procedures of QuiVal, which are set up in compliance to the MSCA doctoral network recruitment rules from the European Commission, most notably the mobility and eligibility of the Doctoral Candidates:

• Candidates may not have a PhD degree.

• Candidates must have not lived in Denmark for at least 2 years out of last 3 years.

SDU Life Cycle Engineering
The successful candidates will be affiliated with the SDU Life Cycle Engineering, which is acknowledged for its unique research on global, holistic, and systems integration of agriculture, energy, and materials sectors. The Department of Green Technology is located in Odense, the main campus of the University of Southern Denmark. Odense is a fast-growing international community with an open Scandinavian culture, affordable housing and living costs. 

Further information about this position is available from Assistant Professor Wu Chen, wuc@igt.sdu.dk and Head of SDU Life Cycle Engineering, Professor Morten Birkved, morb@igt.sdu.dk . 

If you experience technical problems, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk. 

Application procedure

Before applying the candidates are advised to read the Faculty information for prospective PhD students and the SDU information on how to apply.

Assessment of the candidates is based on the application material, and an application must include: 

• Motivated application. 

• Curriculum Vitae.

• Master’s and bachelor’s degree certificates or equivalent, including transcripts of grades (copy of original/official English translation).  

• Completed TEK PhD application form for 5+3 applicants. Find the form at the Faculty website.

• Completed TEK PhD form for calculation grade point average. Find the form at the Faculty website. 

• An official document describing the grading scheme of the awarding universities (if not Danish). 

• Only for applicants from programmes that evaluate thesis/examination project by approved/not approved: An official written assessment of the thesis or dissertation project from the grade giving institution. The statement must clearly state that the candidate has been among the top 30 pct. in the graduation class for the study programme.

• List of publications and maximum 2 examples of relevant publications (in case you have any publications).

• References may be included, you're welcome to use the form for reference letter at the Faculty website.

• A statement/documentation of other qualifications relevant to the position may also be included.

All documents must be in English and PDF format. CPR number (civil registration no.) must be crossed out. All PDF-files must be unlocked and allow binding and may not be password protected.

UPLOAD GUIDE: Motivated application shall be uploaded under ‘Cover letter’ (max. 5 MB), Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded under ‘Resume’ (max 5 MB). All other documents shall be uploaded under ‘Miscellaneous documents’ (max 10 files of max 50 MB per file). 

The application deadline is January 5, 2026, at 11.59 PM / 23.59 (CET/CEST) 

Assessment and selection process

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU.  Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation.

Read about the Assessment and selection process.  

Conditions of enrollment/employment

Appointment as a PhD fellow is a 3-year salaried position. 

Applicants must hold a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish master's degree) at the time of enrollment and employment. Employment is contingent on enrollment approved by the PhD School. Enrollment will be in accordance with Faculty regulations and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities (PhD order). Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state with the associated circular on the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for PhD fellows as described herein as well as the Protocol on PhD fellows signed by the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). Further information about salary and conditions of employment. The person employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial evaluation, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organizer”.

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The University of Southern Denmark wishes our staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, are subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position.

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.