KTH, School of Architecture and the Built Environment

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Planning and Decision Analysis, with specialisation in Environmental Strategic Analysis

The doctoral project is motivated by striving towards a sustainable future, including a transformation of the energy system. The focus of the project is a user centered approach in designing for and implementing smart electrical grids in people’s homes and everyday lives. Smart electrical grids connect supply, distribution and use of electricity through various digital solutions, and they facilitate for the integration of renewable energy sources into the electrical grid. The doctoral project aims to create knowledge on 1) The role of households and digital home technology in the smart electrical grid 2) Methodology for user centered design of smart electrical grids. Behavioral and social aspects in the interplay between households and the electrical system are at the core of the exploration of these areas. One focus is on differences between households, which emphasizes the ability to carry out user analyses.

This position is located at the Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, at the School of Architecture and the Built Environment. The work will be carried out as a part of the project "Resistance and effect - on smart electricity grids for the many people", funded by the Kamprad family research foundation and the project “Smart grid stories from the home”, funded by the Energy Agency. The two projects are closely linked. As “Resistance and effect” is conducted in an interdisciplinary collaboration with Chalmers, Linköping University, Lund University and Uppsala University, there will be some exchange with PhD students and researchers at these universities. The work will involve empirical field work connected to a practical implementation of smart metering technology in a residential area in Stockholm. Desired educational backgrounds are fields, such as human-computer interaction, media technology, behaviour science directed towards digital systems and sustainable development.

Supervision: The doctoral student will be placed at the Royal Institute of Technology and supervised by: Docent Cecilia Katzeff, the School of Architecture and the Built Environment and Lecturer Björn Hedin, the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

What we offer 

  • The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.
  • A compulsory individual study plan to support your development in your area of interest.
  • A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
  • A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
  • Work and study in Stockholm, one of Europe’s fastest growing capitals, which is close to both nature and the sea.
  • Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.
  • The group offers an interdisciplinary and international context, consisting of researchers engaged in sustainable development.

Eligibility

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

  • passed a degree at advanced level,
  • Completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at advanced level, or
  • in any other way acquired within or outside the country acquired essentially equivalent knowledge.
  • language requirements

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assed upon their ability to:

  • independently pursue his or her work,
  • collaborate with others,
  • have a professional approach and
  • analyse and work with complex issues.
  • Other meritorious knowledge are excellent writing skills and fluent in spoken Swedish. Experience of interdisciplinary research is also merit as well as experience from ethnographical methodology.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities and personal suitability.

Target degree: Licentiate degree

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Union representatives

You will find contact information for union representatives on KTH's website.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

You will find contact information for doctoral section on the section's website.

Application

Apply for the position and admission through KTH’s recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

  • CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
  • Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
  • Copy of the degree certificate(s) and transcripts of records from your previously attended university-level institutions and certificates of fulfilled language requirements. These need to be translated into English or Swedish if the original documents are not issued in one of these languages.
  • Representative publications or technical reports: For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other

Gender equality, diversity and zero tolerance against discrimination and harassment are important aspects of KTH's work with quality as well as core values in our organization.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process please read here.                                                                                                 

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment According to agreement
Salary Monthly salary according to KTH's doctoral student salary agreement
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Stockholm
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Reference number A-2020-0159
Contact
  • Cecilia Katzeff, Docent, 08-790 88 13, E-post: ckatzeff@kth.se
Published 13.Feb.2020
Last application date 05.Mar.2020 11:59 PM CET

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