Postdoctoral Fellow(s) in Urban Resilience

The UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience (SDU.Resilience) at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), within the Section for Civil and Architectural Engineering (CAE) at the Department of Innovation and Technology (ITI), invites applications for one or more 2-year positions as Postdoctoral Fellow(s) in Urban Resilience.

The positions are currently open, and the start date is as soon as possible, but negotiable, and preferably starting in June 2026.

Job description

The successful candidate(s) is expected to carry out research on urban resilience nationally and internationally, to publish in high-level peer-reviewed academic journals and books, engage in research dissemination activities, form collaborations with other organizations (research, public authorities and private sector), and play an active role in securing external funding from Danish, EU and international sources. 

Submissions are welcomed in all research areas of the UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience, particularly (but not only) in relation to Capacity Building, Multilevel Governance, Spatial and Strategic Planning. 

Research environment

The UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience (SDU.Resilience) is a research group dedicated to the development of transdisciplinary research, education and knowledge transfer on urban resilience in Denmark and internationally. SDU.Resilience’s activities focus on urban resilient transition, systemically integrating disaster risk reduction, climate change (mitigation and adaptation) and territorial development. 

SDU.Resilience’s activities contribute to implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, and the Sendai Action Framework for Risk Reduction. SDU.Resilience aims to develop research to inform policymaking at the national and international levels and to support science-based urban planning and design for local action in the Global North and South.

SDU.Resilience is active in the following strategic research areas:

• Governance.
• Spatial Planning.
• Capacity Building.

Including thematic research focus on:

• Water and Resilient Human Settlements.
• Resilient Coastal and Maritime Planning.
• Nature-Based Solutions.
• Human Health and Climate in Cities.

Duties and responsibilities

The post-holder(s) will contribute to further develop and expand research, education and knowledge transfer activities on SDU.Resilience’s research areas

The specific duties of the research fellow(s) in urban resilience include: 

• Initiate and deliver research projects with high impact nationally and internationally.
• Publish research outcomes in high-quality scientific journals and books. 
• Actively participate in attracting external funding for research, innovation and education activities from private and public donors. 
• Contribute to the development and delivery of education and capacity building activities.
• Work collaboratively with peers across the faculty, as well as with private and public sector partners nationally and internationally.

Qualifications

The candidate(s) must hold a PhD degree in urban resilience, urban/territorial planning, climate change, disaster risk reduction, architecture, engineering or related areas.

The candidate(s) shall demonstrate: 

• Research and publication record in the knowledge areas. 
• International working experience, particularly in transdisciplinary and multi-cultural teams.
• Experience in preparing/supporting applications for funding at the national and international level is desirable.
• Experience in delivering urban resilience projects at the local level, nationally, and internationally is an asset.
• Scientific and practical experience in the Global South, particularly in a developing context, is highly desirable.
• Experience in teaching at BSc and MSc level is an asset.
• Knowledge of Danish is an asset.
• Knowledge of other languages, particularly UN official languages, is desirable. 

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Danish is not a prerequisite for applying. The hired candidate will be offered Danish courses by the university.

Contact information

Further information about the position is available from Nicola Tollin, Professor wsr in Urban Resilience, Chairholder and coordinator of the UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience tel. +45 93 50 74 70, email: nto@iti.sdu.dk, or from Alberto Innocenti, Associate Professor, deputy coordinator of the UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience tel. +45 93 50 77 19, e-mail: alinn@iti.sdu.dk. 

If you experience technical problems, please contact our email support.

Application

Applicants are advised to read the SDU information on how to apply.

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

• Application, including motivations, skills, and qualifications.
• Curriculum Vitae, detailed, including contact information. 
• Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degree certificates or equivalent (original and an official English translation).  
• Complete list of publications.
• Publications most relevant to the position (maximum 3).
• Summary and documentation of experience in teaching, if relevant to the position.
• A research plan for the next 2 years.
• References/reference letters may also be included.
• 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 number) must be crossed out. All PDF-files must be unlocked, allow binding and may not be password protected. 

SUBMISSION GUIDE: Motivated application must be uploaded under ‘Cover letter’ (max. 5 MB), Curriculum Vitae must be uploaded under ‘Resume’ (max 5 MB). All other documents must be uploaded under ‘Miscellaneous documents’ (max 10 files with a maximum 50 MB per file). 

The application deadline is April 27, 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 employment

Appointment as a postdoc is temporary for an initial 2-year period, and the preferred start date is from June 1, 2026. Extension may be possible depending on available funding.

Employment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level at the time of employment. 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 including the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for postdoc as described therein. Further information on salary and taxation. Persons employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organizer”.

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The University of Southern Denmark wishes its 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, is subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position(s).

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.