A PhD scholarship is offered at ‘The Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design and Conservation’ in the following topic: ‘Grass Composites in Architecture’.
Framework This is a call for a 3-year fully funded PhD Scholarship at the Institute of Architecture and Space, CEMAS – Center for Material Studies, to support the ongoing research in the field of fibrous material composites and thermal design in Architecture.
The topic focuses on material studies of grass fibres extracted from agricultural processing, with the aim of making grass a new raw material for building components with specific fabricated technical properties and visually expressive characteristics.
The PhD project is placed within the larger GrassCO2mposites project, with two other PhD projects initiated and senior researchers focused on grass processing and fibre extraction (Aarhus University) and lignin-based grass binders (Copenhagen University). The project therefore offers opportunities to collaborate directly with associated disciplines, as well as a series of connected industrial partners spanning architecture to agriculture.
The PhD will start on 1 September 2026 or soon hereafter. Application deadline is 28 June 2026.
General Project Summary Currently, architecture and the construction sector are gravitating towards a more sustainable built environment through the use of wood. However, in the Danish and European context, grassland biomass is an even more promising renewable resource with regard to energy renovation of existing buildings, characterisation of fibre-to-form qualities and innovation in new building parts.
The project hypothesis is that grass-based materials can reduce carbon emissions by substituting energy-intensive materials and boost carbon capture storage by creating higher-value, long-lived building elements.
The project investigates how grass-based building parts can be better for the environment and biodiversity, and how they can increase market value by offering specific technical properties, an expressive visual character, robustness and diversity in advanced form applications. In particular, the thermal dynamics of the developed grass composites are in focus, and how we can, through fibre compositions, create thermal properties for a variety of building parts.
The project will explore 1) the basic composition and structure of grass composites, 2) fabrication methods and techniques for the structure of the fibres and building parts for specific thermal and expressive qualities and 3) full-scale prototyping and testing. Research evolves through cascading experiments, involving theoretical and empirical investigations.
PhD Focus The PhD project has the following clear focus area:
- Investigation into grass-based fibre composites for building parts.
- Investigation into thermal characteristics and design of building elements.
- Fabrication methods for natural fibre composites.
- Scalability of the design and construction methods.
Applicant’s Eligibility The candidate must hold an educational degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) in one of the fields below:
- Architecture
- Architectural Technology
- Architectural Engineering
The candidate will investigate the material and geometric analysis and design of grass-based building parts, with applications from façade elements to parts related to building interior transformations. Therefore, the candidate is expected to expand and develop knowledge in the areas of biogenic materials for buildings, fibre-based composites, thermal behaviour and performances of building elements and fabrication methods and processes for the fabrication of the grass-composites.
If you have previous knowledge and experience, your application will be prioritized.
- Material studies with a focus on natural fibers and natural binders.
- Computational studies, with a focus on parametric modelling and thermal simulations.
- Prototyping Studies, with a focus on full-scale building part making and testing.
Previous experience in the following topics is advantageous, but not required:
- Python/Coding competencies
- Thermal and hygroscopic testing of building parts
If educational degrees have been obtained abroad, the education must be assessed by the Danish Agency for International Education before enrolment and employment can take place. The Royal Danish Academy will assist with the assessment process if you are selected for the scholarship. Practical information can be found at
http://ufm.dk/en/education-and-institutions/recognition-and-transparency/recognition-guide.
Terms of employment Enrolment takes place with a view to obtaining a PhD degree and leads to salaried fulltime employment for a period of three years in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations, AC, protocol on graduate fellowships (annex 5). The salary consists of a seniority-based base salary and a non-pensionable allowance.
The PhD program is structured under the provisions of Ministerial Order on the PhD Program at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions (PhD Order) no. 1039 of 27 August 2013 issued by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education regarding PhD programs and PhD degrees.This executive order is found here:
https://ufm.dk/en/legislation/prevailing-laws-and-regulations/education/files/engelsk-ph-d-bekendtgorelse.pdf The Danish PhD education is a three-year full-time education consisting of independent research under supervision, 30 ECTS PhD courses, shift of research environment and knowledge dissemination (840 hours).
Application requirements There are no application forms. Applications must be submitted in English and include:
- A motivated project proposal with reflection on the stated aims of the project in the form of proposed theoretical orientations, comparison to existing research, preliminary syllabus, research questions or hypothesis, and a proposal of the principal methods to be employed in project development (max. 5 regular standard pages)
- Curriculum vitae
- Educational diplomas
- A list of published papers/publications (if applicable).
- A portfolio of previous works and studies completed (if applicable).
Please submit application online via the “Apply for position” button
no later than 28 June 2026. For further information about the application requirements, please contact HR Employee Sine Kildevang Madsen by e-mail at
skmad@kglakademi.dk.
Application material received after the deadline will not be taken into consideration.
Anyone who meets the requirement of an academic degree at a graduate level is encouraged to apply for the scholarship regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or ethnicity.
Assessment procedure The scholarship is advertised in accordance with the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s “Executive Order of 12 April 2019 on the employment of artistic and scientific staff at the higher artistic educational institutions within the remit of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science”.
After the application deadline, in consultation with the appointment committee, the head of the institute will select a number of applicants for academic assessment by an unbiased expert committee. Applicants are selected on the basis of which applicants are found by the appointment committee to best meet the overall criteria set out in this call.
All applicants will be informed as to whether or not their application will proceed to the next stage of the selection procedure, and those selected will be informed of the composition of the expert committee. The expert committee will the assess the selected applicants for the scholarship with focus on the abovementioned research area, techniques, skills and requirements. The committee will conclude whether each applicant is qualified. The assessed applicants will get opportunity to comment on their assessment.
After the assessment process the appointment committee will decide amongst the qualified applicants to whom the scholarship should be offered. The appointment committee can choose to interview one or more of the qualified applicants.
Further information General information about PhD study is available at the PhD School’s website:
https://royaldanishacademy.com/en/phd-and-research-schoolAbout the Royal Danish Academy The Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design and Conservation is an internationally recognised academy that educates professionally creative graduates to the highest level and develops new knowledge that creates value for society and the labour market. The Royal Danish Academy is a public institution under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and has approximately 1,700 students and 350 full-time staff equivalents. Read more about the Royal Danish Academy on our website
www.royaldanishacademy.com.
