About the position
The School of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Landscape and Society at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year PhD-position related to Landscape Architecture – Large-scale landscape changes.
The recent past has seen an increasing number of large-scale landscape changes in Norway caused by, for example, energy production and transmission, construction of data centres and various other forms of infrastructure. More projects of this kind will be needed if aiming at continuing to follow the prevailing socio-economic growth paradigm and including its ever-increasing demand for electricity. In addition, comprehensive future large-scale landscape changes can be anticipated due to a broad range of needs and challenges, such as technological development requiring rare minerals, and mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Knowledge is needed of these processes of landscape change, their driving forces and consequences.
Landscapes are arenas for competing or even contradicting interests, and projects inducing large-scale changes tend to end in conflicts about types of land use and aesthetics. However, these projects have also an inherent potential for shaping new landscapes. To deal with conflicting interests regarding types and degree of development, landscape architecture contributes with forward-looking landscape thinking and practice. Landscape architects are concerned with communicating and representing landscape change through mapping, description, visualisation and scenario modelling, and their contributions impact on how changes are understood and considered in landscape planning and decision-making.
Within this framework the PhD-project should address one or a combination of the following perspectives:
- Landscape ecological approaches including ecological design, nature restauration and conservation
- Ethical and aesthetical considerations of landscape restauration, conservation and creation including their spatial and temporal dimensions
- Representation, visualisation, and scenario modelling
- Sustainable land-use transitions through integrating knowledge from different disciplines and including different understandings of landscape.
The PhD project should take its departure in landscape architecture and relate to the Norwegian context.
The applicant is made aware that an application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD program at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.
The position does not include teaching duties. The position will be affiliated with one of the research groups at the Department of Landscape Architecture.
Main tasks
- The PhD candidate will carry out a PhD project that involves preparing a project plan, conducting literature search, collecting and analysing data, and writing scientific articles and a PhD thesis. The PhD candidate will work together with a team of supervisors.
- The appointed candidate will work on research questions concerning large-scale landscape changes. The position’s main tasks take their departure in the candidate’s project proposal.
- The candidate needs to complete compulsory and elective courses with oral and written exams (30 ECTS).
The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.
Competence:
Required academic qualifications
- Higher education (master’s degree) in landscape architecture or another field of study centered on landscape corresponding to a five-year Norwegian degree program
- Strong academic background from previous studies (GPA of minimum B, master’s thesis min. B)
- Proficiency in both written and oral English in accordance with PhD regulation § 5-2 third paragraph
The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to the PhD program in Society, Development and Planning at the Faculty of Landscape and Society, NMBU.
For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD program description.
The following experiences and skills will be emphasized
- Understanding of the Norwegian society and its landscape-related challenges
- Experience with shaping, developing or managing landscape
- Experience with research and research communication
- Proficiency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian landscape
The following personal experiences and skills will be emphasized
- Commitment for research and a strong motivation to fulfill a PhD
- Be able to work independently and structured
- Participate in developing a good scientific work environment
- Interest in developing the research field also internationally
Remuneration and further information
The position is placed in position code 1017 PhD. Fellow (NOK 550800). For particularly well‑qualified applicants, a higher salary may be considered. Seniority promotion in the position.
Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.
The position is a fixed-term position and starts on 1 September. The candidate is expected to be in the office on campus on a regular basis.
For further general information, please contact Head of Department Nina Berre, email: Nina.Berre@nmbu.no; phone +47 90107912
For questions regarding the PhD program, please contact Program coordinator Josie Teurlings, email: josie.teurlings@nmbu.no
Information for PhD applicants and general information to applicants
Application
To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
Application deadline: 7 April 2026
Your CV must be entered in JobbNorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is to be able to comply with the regulations of §15 of the Public Administration Act.
Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.
Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.
The following documents must be attached to the application:
- Motivation letter (1–2 pages)
- A short project proposal (max. 2000 words) that describes your approach to a PhD project in accordance with the above-mentioned perspectives including theory, research question and potential methods
- Complete CV
- Academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
- Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
- Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works)
- Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with NMBU PhD regulation section 5-2 (3).
- Names and contact details for two references
About the Faculty of Landscape and Society
The Faculty of Landscape and Society is home to some of Norway's foremost academic environments within international environment and development studies, public health science, landscape architecture, landscape engineering, urban and regional planning, property development and property law. The Faculty has 1300 students and 180 employees divided into five departments and a Faculty administration. It offers popular, forward-focused Bachelor, Master’s and PhD programmes. The Faculty is interdisciplinary and works with sustainable social development, both nationally and internationally.
NMBU
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
NMBU will contribute to securing the future of life through outstanding research, education, communication and innovation. We have the country's most satisfied university students, who receive research-based education in a unique student environment. Our graduates gain a high level of competence in interdisciplinary collaboration and are popular in the labor market.
NMBU has internationally leading research environments in several subjects. Together with our partners in society and business, we contribute to solving some of the biggest societal challenges of our time. We focus on innovation, communication and entrepreneurship because we believe these challenges are best solved with joint efforts. We believe that a good working environment is characterized by diversity.If necessary, workplace adaptations will be made for persons with disabilities. More information about NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no/en
Questions about the position
Instituttleder Nina Berre
Ved generelle spørsmål knyttet til stillingen,
+47 90107912
Nina.Berre@nmbu.no
Programkoordinator Josie Teurlings
Ved spørsmål knyttet til Ph.d. programmet,
josie.teurlings@nmbu.no
