Postdoc in Marine Risk Assessment and Decision Support - DTU Management

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet; Ørsted; On-site; DKK 550,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

DTU Management, Copenhagen, invites applications for a 2-year postdoctoral/researcher position focused on risk assessment and decision science in marine spaces. Based in Copenhagen, the role bridges academic and industrial partners to develop methods supporting transparent, evidence-based and sustainable management of contested marine environments.

The candidate will translate ecological risk assessments into regulatory-relevant indicators, engage with stakeholders, and disseminate findings

Qualifications

• PhD required in Maritime Engineering, Risk Analysis, Environmental Management, Decision Science, or related discipline.
• Strong analytical profile with experience in complex socio-technical or environmental systems and managing uncertainty.
• Experience with quantitative analysis, modelling, and programming is required.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen translation of cumulative ecological risk assessments into decision-support tools for marine spatial planning and regulatory evaluation.
• Design approaches to integrate environmental, operational, and safety considerations in cross-sector marine impact assessments.
• Evaluate implications of maritime technologies and alternative-fuel infrastructures in risk and coexistence assessments.
• Engage with industry, regulators, and NGOs to ensure relevance of project outputs.
• Develop an open and accessible decision-support framework for sustainable marine space use.
• Publish results in leading international journals and present findings at conferences.

Skills

Risk assessment

Environmental systems analysis

Decision science

Interdisciplinary research

Quantitative analysis

Programming

Education

PhD in Maritime Engineering

Tools

Modelling

Programming

Job description

If you are building your career in risk assessment and decision science and want to contribute to one of the most pressing challenges facing the marine environment – the coexistence of offshore renewable energy, maritime transport, fisheries, and conservation objectives – this is your opportunity.

At DTU Management’s Management Science Division, you will join the OceanBalance project, an interdisciplinary initiative developing a novel framework for assessing cumulative environmental risks across competing uses of marine space. Working closely with researchers from DTU Aqua, DTU Wind, DTU Entrepreneurship, and external stakeholders, you will help bridge the gap between scientific risk assessment and real-world decision-making.

We are looking for a researcher with a strong background in risk assessment, environmental systems analysis, decision science, or a related field, who is motivated to develop methods and decision-support tools that support transparent, evidence-based, and sustainable management of increasingly contested marine environments.

Based in Copenhagen – consistently ranked among the world's most liveable cities – you'll enjoy a high quality of life, a safe and sustainable urban environment, and a thriving cultural scene. At the same time, you'll be part of a vibrant, interdisciplinary research community at one of Europe's top technical universities, known for its commitment to innovation, societal impact, and diversity.

Responsibilities and qualifications

Your overall focus will be to strengthen the translation of cumulative ecological risk assessments into decision-support tools for marine spatial planning, regulatory evaluation, and sustainable marine development. You will work with academic and industrial partners in Denmark and abroad. Your primary tasks will be to:

• Develop frameworks and methodologies for translating cumulative ecological risk assessments into regulatory-relevant indicators and decision-support metrics
• Design and implement approaches for integrating environmental, operational, and safety considerations within cross-sector marine impact assessments
• Evaluate the implications of emerging maritime technologies and alternative-fuel infrastructures within cumulative risk and coexistence assessments
• Engage with stakeholders from industry, regulatory authorities, and NGOs to ensure the relevance and applicability of project outputs
• Contribute to the development of an open and accessible decision-support framework for the sustainable use of marine space
• Publish results in leading international peer-reviewed journals
• Present findings at international conferences and contribute to project reporting and dissemination activities

You hold a PhD in Maritime Engineering, Risk Analysis, Environmental Management, Decision Science, or a related discipline. You are motivated to address complex challenges at the intersection of environmental sustainability, industrial development, and public decision-making, and you have experience conducting interdisciplinary research.

You have a strong analytical profile and experience working with complex socio-technical or environmental systems, including integrating multiple sources of evidence and managing uncertainty. Experience with quantitative analysis, modelling, and programming is required.

The following qualifications will be considered an advantage:

• Experience with maritime operations, shipping systems, offshore energy, fisheries management, or environmental regulation
• Experience with impact assessment methodologies, multi-criteria decision analysis, Bayesian networks, and risk management tools
• Experience with stakeholder engagement, participatory processes, or the development of decision-support tools
• Familiarity with international maritime policy, marine spatial planning, and regulatory frameworks
• Experience working in interdisciplinary and international research environments

As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent).

We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. In addition, supplements can be negotiated in accordance with DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures.

The period of employment is 2 years. The position is available from 1 October 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter by agreement.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Location

Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Michael Bruhn Barfod ([e-mail])

You can read more at www.man.dtu.dk

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

DTU Management conducts excellent research at the intersection of management, technology and economics. We develop solutions in close cooperation with companies and public authorities. Our research aims at strengthening welfare, productivity and sustainability. A key element is the role of technology and its interaction with industry and individuals. The department offers a wide range of courses and programs at bachelor, master, and PhD levels across DTU's study programs. The department has 250+ employees with around half of staff coming from abroad.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829. DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.