Aalborg University invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral position at the Danish Centre for Environmental Assessment (DCEA), Department of Sustainability and Planning. The position is part of the EU-funded project SUSTAINOW, which aims to support a sustainable expansion of offshore wind energy by strengthening how environmental and social considerations are integrated into planning and decision-making.
As a postdoc, you will work at the interface between research and practice and contribute to the development of decision-support approaches that help planners and authorities address environmental, social, and cumulative impacts of offshore wind farms.
The position is full-time and based in Aalborg, with employment starting on 15 August 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Job description
You will be employed as a postdoc at the Department of Sustainability andPlanning and affiliated with DCEA, which coordinates the SUSTAINOW project. You will contribute to the development, testing, and application of a prototype decision-support tool for offshore wind planning.

Your main tasks will include collaborating with researchers and partners on:

•  Contributing to the design and development of a decision-support prototype focusing on environmental and social impacts
• Integrating knowledge on environmental, socio-economic, cumulative, and large-scale impacts to support decision-making
• Applying and testing the prototype in real offshore wind planning and development processes in the North Sea
• Assessing transferability of the approach to other European sea basins
  Developing recommendations for integrating sustainability criteria into tendering and permitting processes
• Collaborating with international project partners and participating in project meetings and workshops
• Disseminating results through conferences, scientific publications, and practice-oriented outputs

Teaching and supervision are not required but may be possible depending on qualifications.

The position is office-based in Aalborg, and you are expected to be present at the department most days to take part in the daily life and community of the centre.

Qualification requirements
Applicants must have, or be close to completing, a PhD in environmental assessment, planning, environmental studies, sustainability science, or a related field.

Applicants are expected to:

• Have experience with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), or related decision-support approaches
• Have an interest in environmental and social impacts of plans and projects, including cumulative and distributional effects
• Be familiar with qualitative methods such as interviews, document analysis, case studies, and stakeholder workshops
• Be open to collaborate with practitioners and contribute to both academic and practice-oriented outputs
• Publish in international peer-reviewed journals
• Experience with offshore wind or marine impacts is an advantage, but experience from related fields (e.g. renewable energy planning, coastal and marine management) is also relevant. Advanced numerical modelling or programming skills are not required.

The position is suitable for both recently graduated PhD candidates and applicants with postdoctoral experience.

Language requirements
The working language of the project and the department is English. Applicants must therefore be proficient in spoken and written English. Danish language skills are not required for this position.

About the workplace
The Danish Centre for Environmental Assessment (DCEA) is Denmark’s leading research centre within environmental assessment. The centre conducts research at the intersection of assessment practice, decision-making, and governance and works in close collaboration with public authorities, private organisations, and civil society.

DCEA is part of the Department of Planning at Aalborg University, which conducts interdisciplinary research on sustainable transitions, green energy, and planning.The department of Sustainability and Planning was established in 1975, and is located in two beautiful harbour-front locations in both Aalborg and Copenhagen. We have more than 250 employees and approximately 1,200 students across the two cities.

Our research and study programmes are rooted in sustainability and the green transition. This means we conduct research in areas such as the circular economy, technology, urban, energy, and environmental planning, as well as sustainable transition and design. Sustainability is central to our work in environmental assessment and marine management. In surveying and land use, sustainability is reflected in our efforts in nature restoration and climate adaptation.

As society continues to develop digitally, we also focus on responsible technological development, addressing real-life challenges. Our problem-oriented approach and close collaboration with businesses and public organisations form the foundation of all our study programmes. Additionally, our engineering programmes are among the best in Europe.

You can read more on TECH as a workplace here.
You can read more on Department of Sustainability and Planning here.

You may obtain further professional information from Associate Professor Iva Lyhne, +45 9940 2539, lyhne@plan.aau.dk

How to apply  
Your application must include the following: 

• Application, stating reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position 
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
• Diplomas (master's degree diploma and PhD diploma) 
• List of publications, with an indication of the attached publications that you wish to be taken into account in the assessment. You may attach a maximum of five publications. 
• Documentation of teaching qualifications if relevant.
• Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations etc. 
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position 
• References/recommendations 

You can read more about the requirements for your application here.    

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.  

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position. 

Do you have any questions? 
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.     

  Further information 
Read more about our recruitment process here   

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.  

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace. 

Salary and terms of employment  
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish). 

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (only in Danish). 

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.