The Center for Life Cycle Engineering at the Department of Green Technology, University of Southern Denmark, invites applications for a 3-year PhD position focusing on scenario-specific planetary boundaries for energy production and consumption within the built environment.
The position is part of SDU LCE’s strategic research agenda on sustainability transitions in the built environment. The successful candidate will work on developing and applying scenario-specific planetary boundary frameworks to assess energy systems and consumption patterns in buildings and urban infrastructure. The research will contribute to understanding how energy-related decisions in the built environment can align with global sustainability thresholds.
The PhD project will involve interdisciplinary collaboration and quantitative sustainability assessment methods, including Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Energy System Analysis (ESA), and socio-economic modeling. The candidate will be expected to contribute to ongoing EU and national projects and engage with stakeholders in academia, industry, and policy.
SDU Life Cycle Engineering
SDU Life Cycle Engineering (SDU LCE) conducts unique research in system analysis and systems integration. The research at SDU LCE focuses on Environmental Systems Analysis, including Material Flow Analysis (MFA), Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA), Energy System Analysis (ESA), Industrial Ecology (IE), and Techno-economic (TEA) & Socio-Economic Assessment (SEA). By applying and further developing these methods, SDU LCE aims to understand and characterize the sustainability of socio-economic development, including societal infrastructure development, urban development, and the technological development of industrial and agricultural products and systems. SDU LCE actively participates in the international research community of Quantitative Sustainability Assessment and Industrial Ecology and contributes to international sustainable development agendas such as bio-economy and circular economy.
SDU LCE is primarily externally funded and engaged in numerous strategic research projects supported by various sources, including EU projects, national strategic research and innovation projects, private company projects, and NGO projects.
The education and teaching portfolio at SDU LCE covers a broad range of technology and science courses related to these research areas. SDU LCE is responsible for SDU's Master's program in Environmental Engineering and is involved in both the Bachelor's and Master's programs in Energy Technology and Integrated Design and Sustainable Product Development. For more information about SDU LCE, please visit www.sdu.dk/lifecycle.
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a relevant Master's degree in environmental engineering, energy sustainability assessment will be considered an advantage. A good command of analytical expertise and data science is beneficial. Experience with sustainability assessment, planetary boundaries, and scenario modeling is considered an advantage. Strong analytical skills and a collaborative mindset are essential. Fluency in English is required.
The project is funded entirely by the Villum Foundation grant serving to accelerate the green transition of the built environment
About the team
The PhD fellow will work in the SDU Life Cycle Engineering (SDU LCE) center at the Department of Green Technology. The main supervisor will be Associate Professor Hossein Nami and co-supervision will be provided by Professor Morten Birkved.
For further information regarding the position, please contact the Head of the SDU LCE, Professor Morten Birkved, at tel.: +45 6550 7636, email: morb@igt.sdu.dk or Associate Professor Hossein Nami at tel.: +45 52751924, email: hon@igt.sdu.dk.
If you experience technical problems, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk.
Application
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.
Evidence of research experience and research ideas.
List of publications and maximum 3-4 examples of relevant publications (in case you have any publications).
Evidence of experience in teaching/student supervision may be included, if relevant.
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.
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.
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).
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.
The application deadline is November 30, 2025, 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, and the monthly gross salary incl. pension is 36.581 DKK. If you have relevant postgraduate experience, you may be placed on a higher salary step.
The preferred start date is from January 1, 2026.
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.