PhD student in Construction Management and Building Technology with a focus on circular business models for sustainable construction projects

Luleå University of Technology experiences rapid growth with world-leading expertise within several research domains. We shape the future through innovative education and groundbreaking research results and drawing on our location in the Arctic region, we create global societal benefit. Our scientific and artistic research and education are carried out in close collaboration with international, national and regional companies, public actors and leading universities. Luleå University of Technology has an annual turnover of SEK 1.9 billion. Today, we have 1,815 staff and 19,155 students.

In the coming years, multi-billion investments will be made in large projects in Northern Sweden to create a fossil-free society both nationally and globally. Luleå University of Technology is involved in several of these cutting-edge research projects and in the societal transformation that they entail. We offer a broad range of courses and study programmes to match the skills in demand. We hope that you will help us to build the sustainable companies and societies of the future.

We at the research subject Construction Management and Building Technology now like to strengthen our group with a PhD student focusing on circular business models for sustainable construction projects. Our research group belongs to the division of Industrialized and Sustainable Construction that conducts research and education within the construction process - from early planning and design through construction to management. Our core competencies are in management and automation of the construction process as well as in industrialized construction and production systems. Our division is a major player in Sweden in its core area and has around 30 employees, of which 10 are PhD students. The research is applied and based on current practical issues identified in close collaboration with stakeholders in the construction sector.

SUBJECT DESCRIPTION
Construction Management and Building Technology comprises of technical solutions, tools, methods and organizing for the planning, information management and control of sustainable and integrated industrialized construction and business processes.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The doctoral project is carried out within Creaternity, which is one of Luleå University of Technology's future areas that focuses on circularity and the transition towards a sustainable industry. Read more here: Creaternity. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with actors in the construction industry (e.g. NCC), that have important roles in enabling construction projects that contribute to the sustainable development of the construction sector. You will also collaborate with other closely related research projects both within Luleå University of Technology and at other universities.

The research project is aimed at increasing knowledge about what demands the client's modern business models place on the suppliers and their business models in order to achieve sustainable construction projects. The project aims to, through case studies, firstly map what opportunities the supplier currently has to work with sustainability and circularity, and secondly work on developing future supplier offers (business models) that include circularity and innovation. The development of new business models will include activities that promote an iterative way of working such as focus groups and structured interviews. The collaboration between industry and researchers will therefore be extra important during this stage because the developed business models need to be implementable and fit into the supplier's business.

WORK DUTIES
As a PhD student, you work with a doctoral degree as the final goal after the equivalent of four years of full-time research studies. The research education includes training in scientific work as well as conducting PhD education courses within relevant research areas. The employment also include departmental duties in terms of teaching and other administrative work to a maximum extent of 20% of full time. The work as a PhD student means great opportunities to define and plan your daily tasks yourself.

QUALIFICATIONS
In order to be eligible as a PhD student you need a master's degree in engineering in a relevant field, i.e., Civil Engineering, Industrial and Management or Architectural Engineering. As the research work is very communicative, we require that you have very good ability to express yourself verbally and in writing in English. Qualifying criteria for the position are the ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle scientific problems.

Meriting criteria are:
- knowledge in project management and/or innovation management
- knowledge and skills within the construction process (design, production and/or management of buildings) and construction procurement
- knowledge and skills in business models, business strategies
- good knowledge of Swedish, verbally as well as in writing

For further information on specific doctoral education see: Study plans for postgraduate education within the Faculty of Technology

INFORMATION
Employment as a doctoral student is time-limited to 4 years, teaching and other departmental duties may add up to a maximum of 20%. The employment is extended if and to the extent that teaching and departmental duties have been completed.

As a PhD student, you receive a monthly salary according to a union-negotiated salary scale with a current starting salary of SEK 32 800. The PhD salary scale is revised annually in connection with the general salary revision. In addition to the annual revision, there is also a salary increase in connection with an approved licentiate degree/midterm seminar, which currently stands at an extra SEK 5 400.

Location of employment is Luleå. The work involves travel and short stays in another location.

For further information, please contact senior lecturer and head of division, Johan Larsson, +46 920 49 22 63, johan.p.larsson@ltu.se

Union representatives: SACO-S Kjell Johansson +46 920 49 15 29, kjell.johansson@ltu.se or OFR- Lars Frisk, +46 920 49 17 92, lars.frisk@ltu.se

In case of different interpretations of the English and Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

APPLICATION
Apply for the position via the application button below, where you attach a personal letter as well as a CV/résumé and degree certificate. Please mark your application with the reference number below. The application and degree certificate must be written in Swedish or English.

Reference number: 87-2023
Application deadline: March 31, 2022