International Doctoral Program
"Advanced Research in Urban System" (ARUS)
at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE)

The ARUS international Doctoral program at the University of Duisburg-Essen is currently accepting applications for doctoral candidates for the Winter Term 2012/13. ARUS is part of the Main Research Area "Urban Systems" at UDE and is sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Placing great emphasis on trans-departmental collaboration and interdisciplinary research on crucial issues in urban studies, the ARUS program is aimed at graduates with backgrounds in the social sciences, humanities, education, engineering, or urban planning. ARUS is a demanding three-year research program of high academic quality and offers candidates a variety of academic advising and support. Candidates also receive the opportunity to gain teaching experience in our new "Urban Systems" Masters programs in "Sustainable Urban Technologies" and "Urban Culture, Society and Space". Doctoral dis­ser­ta­tions may be written in either German or English.

ARUS cooperates with Qingdao Technological University, Jianzhu-University Shenyang, COPPE/UFRJ (Rio de Janeiro), Middle East Technical University, METU (Ankara) and the University of Oregon (Portland).

Graduates from Germany and abroad (Masters or comparable degree, with aboveaverage final marks) can apply. The deadline is April 30, 2012.

For further information about the formalities of the application process, consult:
http://www.uni-due.de/arus

Applications are to be sent to Prof. Dr. Jens M. Gurr, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Uni­ver­si­tätsstraße 12, 45141 Essen, Germany.

ARUS will be awarding one scholarship (1000 € per month for two years; option for extension) for a dissertation in the field of urban health: Urban health issues have recently become a major topic in planning research and literature. The way we design and build our cities affects human health and well-being. The built environment can promote or deter a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, especially the association between built environment characteristics on the one hand, and health and/or health-related behavior on the other hand, should be focused within the PhD research project. This transdisciplinary project is situated within the larger scope of studies in the fields of urban design, urban planning, landscape architecture, public health, epidemiology, and/or social science.

The following aspects might be addressed:

• Impacts of interrelations between quantitative and qualitative features of the built environment on human health and living conditions
• Implications of land use, green spaces, public transit, streetscapes for physical activity such as walking and/or biking, and/or other aspects of health
• Impacts of urban planning/urban design on social cohesion and community life
• Strategies concerning the built environment in order to minimize the effects of climate change and improve health
• Relationship between transportation, mobility concepts and physical activity
• Motivation, opportunities and barriers for health-related behavior

Specific prerequisites:
Very good degree in urban planning/urban design, landscape design, spatial planning, ar­chi­tec­ture, related to public health, social sciences, strong analytical skills and competent use of graphics programs.