Industrial PhD: Disruptive technologies in design

Industrial PhD opportunity with NIRAS and Technical University of Denmark
NIRAS: Building & Design and Infrastructure
DTU: Engineering Systems Division at DTU Management Engineering
Send us your expression of interest by August 1, 2016. Details see below.
Envisaged start in 2016.
 
Project background:
The world we work and live in is changing and it is changing fast. This is particularly exciting and visible in digital design engineering. Disruptive technologies are changing the way we interact, work, defined and deliver engineering- and business services. Now is the time to investigate and utilize the various opportunities that are arising for companies through digital transformation, to be productive, lead innovation, and create growth.

Project aim:
The overall aim is to investigate the opportunities through disruptive technologies and science in research and engineering design practice and thereby to create new business models for engineering business practice.

Project scope:
The project is curiosity-driven and allows for precision based on your interest, profile, and talent.
Some of the activities include:

• Exploring and technology-scouting inventive, game-changing discoveries and disruptive technologies in design that have the potential to positively advance the way we work and live.
• Identifying challenges and opportunities in digital transformation of the Danish building- and infrastructure industry, with a particular focus on use of digital tools, e.g. Virtual Design Construction (VDC), Building Information Modelling (BIM), 3D, 4D, 5D visualization, and more.
• Including inspiration from other domains dealing with disruptive technologies, e.g. product development and manufacturing, finance/fintech, healthcare/healthtech.
• Researching and developing innovative solutions and new competences for the future digital transformation of the entire value chain, covering product (re)design, supply, manufacturing, distribution, use and customer interaction, as well as maintenance and disposal.
• Creating future scenarios how selected disruptive technologies and digital tools are used to elicit and integrate different perspectives in design, create joint understanding around requirements, and are used for design communication between stakeholders
• Generating and increasing the solution space in the building and infrastructure sector whereby technologies are used as starting platform and play a central role in creating new business models.
• Preparing the sector in general and engineering consultancy in particular to be ready and anticipate future needs and demands of customers, users, and other stakeholders.
• Sharing insight into the use of disruptive technologies, launch of new products and services that will open new markets and/or radically alter existing business models.
• Roadmapping the path from basic idea to implementation in consultancy practice.

You are:
Technology- and business savvy, interested in the interplay between technology, design, humans, and business, have an engineering, design or related degree, are passionate about conducting cutting-edge and forward-looking research, would like to work in a leading engineering consultancy, and are comfortable in interacting with various stakeholders in Denmark and abroad? Go for it.

The process from here:
We are looking forward to receiving your expression of interest now. We will then contact you with the view towards writing a joint application to the Industrial PhD programme from the Innovation Fund Denmark. The application deadline is mid-September 2016, notification November 2016, and we envisage a PhD project start shortly thereafter, e.g. December 2016. See further information on the official Industrial PhD programme here.

Expression of interest:
Please express your interest by clicking on the “Apply”-button. Here you can register and upload one PDF file containing: Short motivation cover letter, outlining your interest, research, and industry practice experience (max 2 pages)

• CV (including publication list if applicable)
• Course transcripts, including grade for bachelor and master’s theses/final projects
• Copy of Bachelor and Master’s degree certificates
• Name for potential reference contacts

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