Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management
Third-cycle subject area:
Landscape architecture
Description of the doctoral project:
Governance and organisational alignment related to the operation and maintenance (O&M) of urban drainage infrastructures
Stormwater transports a wide range of pollutants from urban environments to receiving waters, posing major challenges for the protection of surface waters and coastal ecosystems. Urban drainage infrastructures, such as gully pots and stormwater ponds, play a critical role by retaining sediments and associated contaminants. However, their performance depends on effective operation and maintenance (O&M), which in practice is often reactive or based on fixed schedules, despite large spatial and temporal variability in sediment accumulation and vegetation development. This PhD project is part of a larger interdisciplinary research initiative aiming to enable a transition towards more data-driven and environmentally responsible maintenance of urban drainage infrastructures. The overall goal is to reduce pollutant loads to coastal and marine environments while supporting sustainable urban water management.
The PhD research will focus on identifying strategies for coherent long-term organisational set-ups and assess how stakeholder discourses, rules and resources shape the feasibility of different O&M schemes defined within the overall project. This includes assessment of governance feasibility of the various O&M schemes, and identification of alignment strategies, drawing on legal and policy frameworks and economic frameworks identified by partners in the overall project. The programmatic alignment theory, long-term strategic management, and elements of Nature-based Thinking (the organisational, ecological and social interdependencies) will be applied as basis for the analysis. Based on this, organisational and governance aspects of long-term urban drainage infrastructure maintenance will be described, as well as governance challenges and barriers for achieving healthy coastal environments will be identified.
Within this project, the PhD student will be involved in collaboration with stakeholders in both the water and wastewater industry and the green sector. The PhD student will communicate results both with the industry and international researchers.
About the position:
As a PhD student, you will perform both empirical and theoretical work. You will learn how to collect and analyse data within your research area as well as communicate your results at national and international conferences and in scientific journals. Most of your working time will be devoted to your own research studies, including both research and coursework. In addition, you will also carry out departmental duties, such as teaching and/or assisting in other research projects. You will have two or three supervisors who support you in your work.
Requirements:
To meet the general entry requirements you must have:
The special entry requirements for the subject landscape architecture are the equivalent of at least 90 higher education credits in courses relevant to landscape architecture. At least 30 credits must be at second-cycle level. For applicants who do not fulfil these criteria, eligibility is verified on a case-by-case basis taking into account the research task.
You must also meet the equivalent English language requirements as those necessary for the Swedish upper-secondary qualification Engelska B/6.
Your profile:
Required qualifications:
Desirable qualifications:
About us:
The Landscape Governance and Management research group has a strong position in research and education on urban landscape governance and management, including urban water systems, primarily stormwater. The group consists of about 15 members and the group's overall goal is to contribute to how governance and management can be developed to support the sustainability, use and relevance of outdoor environments, often within applied development and in innovation-driven contexts.
Read more about staff benefits and life as an SLU employee on https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/
Read more about third-cycle courses and study programmes on https://www.slu.se/en/study/programmes-courses/doctoral-education/
Form of employment / Funding:
Employment as a doctoral student (4-year programme). Doctoral student's salaries are set following the local collective agreement. Salary progression is fixed.
Location:
Alnarp
Scope:
100%
Start date:
1 February 2027 or as soon as possible.
Application and selection:
Please submit your application using the link below. The deadline is 16 November 2026.
Read carefully here about the attachments that your application must include: https://www.slu.se/en/study/programmes-courses/doctoral-education/how-can-i-become-a-doctoral-student/application/
Selection among eligible applicants is based on the documents attached to the application, and is carried out with regard to the applicant's ability to complete the programme within the allotted time.
Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/
Note: This is a shortened version of the advertisement adapted to the Swedish Public Employment Service's (Platsbanken) system. Please see the full advertisement on SLU's website: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/jobs-and-vacancies/
