PhD Position in 3D Concrete Printing for Low-Carbon Buildings

Om stillingenSDU CREATE invites highly motivated candidates who wish to contribute to a more sustainable built environment to apply for a PhD position in 3D Concrete Printing for Low-Carbon Buildings. The position is expected to begin in January 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.The application deadline is September 15, 2026, at 23:59 CET/CEST.Scope of the work

Scope of the work

The PhD position is linked to the Villum CEBE programme, Civil Engineering and the Green Transition in the Built Environmen t, funded by the Villum Foundation. The overall ambition is to develop a new generation of low-carbon prefabricated building systems enabled by 3D concrete printing, rethinking how concrete structures are designed, fabricated, and assembled.The research will bring together architectural design, structural optimisation, and artificial intelligence to generate materially efficient building systems in which geometry, structural performance, and fabrication are developed as an integrated whole. It will address advanced toolpath generation, reinforcement integration, structural connections, and assembly through unified computational design and robotic fabrication workflows.The candidate will develop artificial intelligence-driven pipelines connecting structural evaluation, geometry generation, fabrication planning, and robotic production. The work will combine computational research with extensive laboratory experimentation, including the robotic printing of full-scale components and building demonstrators at SDU CREATE and their validation through structural testing.The candidate will also contribute to teaching in the MSc CREATE programme and the BSc programme in Civil and Architectural Engineering through laboratory teaching, workshops, and co-supervision of student projects.

Focus Area and Research Project

The research focuses on developing the next generation of low-carbon building systems. 3D concrete printing offers significant opportunities for prefabrication, geometric differentiation, and project-specific optimisation. Realising this potential requires an integrated approach in which architectural design, structural performance, robotic fabrication, reinforcement, connections, and assembly are addressed as interdependent aspects of a building system.The project will develop computational and experimental methods for the design, fabrication, and validation of materially efficient prefabricated building systems. It will extend SDU CREATE’s research on performance-informed architectural design, structural optimisation, hybrid printing, reinforcement integration, and full-scale robotic construction.The research will address the following areas:

• Computational design of architecturally and structurally integrated prefabricated building systems for 3DCP
• Structural optimisation at component and system levels, encompassing slabs, beams, columns, walls, nodes, and their connections
• Artificial intelligence-driven pipelines connecting geometry generation, structural evaluation, and fabrication planning
• Advanced toolpath generation and sensing-based process control for structurally differentiated components
• Integration of reinforcement, structural connections, fabrication constraints, and assembly requirements into robotic production workflows
• Robotic 3D printing of full-scale components and construction of integrated building demonstrators
• Structural testing of printed components, connections, and assembled systems
• Quantitative evaluation of material consumption, embodied carbon, structural performance, and production efficiency

About SDU CREATE’s Research Environment

The Centre for Computational Research in Emergent Architectural Technology and Engineering , SDU CREATE, is led by Associate Professor Roberto Naboni. The Centre investigates advanced concepts and applications in architectural engineering, with a focus on computational design, construction robotics, and material innovation. SDU CREATE brings together an international research team working across architectural engineering, computer science, robotics, materials science, and biology. Its research develops sustainable and regenerative approaches to the design and production of the built environment.Located within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Southern Denmark, SDU CREATE provides advanced laboratory facilities for robotic fabrication, additive manufacturing, mixed reality applications in design and construction, and structural and mechanical testing. The facilities include industrial robotic systems, concrete mixing and extrusion equipment, computational design platforms, and equipment for the experimental testing of materials, components, and structures. This environment supports interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships with academic and industrial institutions in Denmark and internationally. The candidate will work within a research culture that combines computational development with physical experimentation and full-scale construction.SDU CREATE is a partner in a ten-year national research initiative funded by the Villum Foundation, in which Danish technical universities collaborate to advance the sustainability of the built environment within planetary boundaries. Within this initiative, SDU CREATE leads the research field on Digitalisation and Automation, RF4, and contributes to the research field on Design for Regeneration, Circularity, and Longevity, RF2. The programme provides a long-term research framework, access to national research networks, and opportunities for collaboration with academic and industrial partners.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will contribute to the development and delivery of CREATE’s research activities and laboratory-based investigations. Responsibilities include:

• Conducting high-quality research within the defined research project and contributing original, scientifically rigorous outcomes
• Conducting fabrication and structural testing experiments, including direct operation of robotic systems and laboratory equipment
• Participating in CREATE’s research team activities, contributing to the development of design, fabrication, and testing frameworks
• Developing and maintaining computational tools and workflows supporting the research activities
• Assisting in teaching bachelor’s and master’s level courses and workshops, including co-supervision of thesis students and collaboration with interns in research-related activities
• Disseminating research results through high-impact peer-reviewed publications and recognised international conferences
• Sharing research outcomes through curated and high-quality outputs for digital platforms, exhibitions, and competitions
• Contributing to the further development and maintenance of CREATE’s laboratory infrastructures and experimental facilities
• Engaging with academic and industrial collaborators at the national and international level, including participation in the Villum CEBE research network
• Assisting senior staff in the preparation of applications for external research funding

Candidate Requirements

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Documented interest and foundational knowledge in the research area of 3D Concrete Printing
• Advanced competence in Grasshopper and Rhino. Knowledge of Python, C#, or finite element analysis is evaluated positively
• Demonstrated capacity to conduct, document, and disseminate projects and research outcomes suitable for peer-reviewed publication
• Experience with hands‑on and experimental lab and construction activities
• Strong proficiency in English, both written and oral
• Strong ability to work effectively within interdisciplinary teams, coordinate and collaborate daily
• Strong communication skills across graphical, written, and oral formats
• Beneficial experience in teaching assistance or peer-reviewed publications
• A proven track record of involvement in research or innovation projects
• Engagement with academic or industry stakeholders in relevant domains

Enrollment and Employment terms

Appointment as a PhD fellow is a 3-year salaried position, and the monthly gross salary incl. pension is 37.075 DKK. If you have relevant postgraduate experience, you may be placed on a higher salary step.Applicants must hold a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish master’s degree) at the time of enrollment and employment.Employment is contingent on enrollment approved by the PhD School.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 job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for PhD fellows as described therein as well as the Protocol on PhD fellows signed by the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).Salary is determined in accordance with the applicable collective agreement and based on objective and gender-neutral criteria, including the content of the position, responsibilities, and qualification requirements. As an applicant, you are entitled to information about the starting salary and salary range for the position. This information will be provided during the recruitment process. SDU does not collect information on applicants’ previous salary. 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”.-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.

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