The People Rethinking the Built Environment Across Denmark
CEBE Organisation
A world under pressure calls for a fundamental shift in how we build. Civil engineers across Denmark have come together in CEBE to rethink the built environment within planetary boundaries. The programme brings together Aalborg University, Aarhus University, the Technical University of Denmark and the University of Southern Denmark in a shared effort to advance new scientific knowledge and solutions.
CEBE is a large-scale 10-year research proogramme supported by a DKK 1 billion grant from the Villum Foundation. We bring together leading research environments and disciplines to address the urgent challenges facing the built environment and to support a transition towards more sustainable practices.
Our organisation is designed to ensure clear direction, strong coordination and effective governance. The Advisory Board provides independent strategic insight, while the Steering Committee ensures overall alignment and programme direction. Research activities are coordinated by the Scientific Coordination Group and the CEBE Management Team and Coordination Unit oversees the day-to-day leadership and execution.
Together, this structure supports close collaboration across institutions and disciplines, driving a shared ambition to rethink the built environment within planetary boundaries.
Mission
To lead change in Civil Engineering by fostering new knowledge, accelerating innovation, advancing education, building research capacity and strengthen international collaboration.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee (SC) holds overall responsibility for the direction and management of CEBE. It sets the strategic direction, approves budgets, annual reports and funding decisions – and ensures the programme’s progress and quality.
The committee consists of one executive representative from each partner university and is chaired by provost Christine Nellemann, the Technical University of Denmark. It meets to review progress, address challenges and make strategic adjustments, supported by input from the Programme Director and the Scientific Coordination Group.
From left: Pro-rector at Aalborg University, Jesper Wengel, Dean Technical Sciences at Aarhus University, Eskild Holm Nielsen, Provost at the Technical University of Denmark, Christine Nellemann and Dean at the Faculty of Engineering the University of Southern Denmark, Henrik Bindslev.
Scientific Coordination Group
The Scientific Coordination Group (SCG) ensures alignment and coherence across CEBE’s research activities. It provides strategic scientific input, validates research directions and priorities and helps coordinate funding instruments and programme activities. The group is chaired by CEBE’s Programme Director and consists of scientific representatives from each partner university. These representatives act as key links between their home institutions and the programme, ensuring strong collaboration and alignment.
From left: Kasper Lynge Jensen, Head of Department of the Built Environment at Aalborg University, Hans Nørgaard Hansen, Head of Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark, Per Heiselberg, Programme Director CEBE, Søren Wandahl, Head of Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at Aarhus University and Christian Koch, Professor, Civil and Architectural Engineering at the University of Southern Denmark.
CEBE Coordination Unit & Management Team
The Coordination Unit manages and supports the day-to-day running of CEBE and ensures that the programme operates smoothly across universities and researchers. It manages finance, communication, scheduling, open calls and reporting. The unit also facilitates meetings, workshops and conferences and helps ensure effective collaboration across the programme. The CEBE management team consisting of the Managing Director and the Chief Operating Officer, is a part of the Coordination Unit. Moreover, a Financial Officer, a Communication Consultant and a Program Coordinator is part of the coordination unit.
Advisory Board
The CEBE Advisory Board is an independent body that strengthens the programme through external input and critical reflection. It advises the Steering Committee and the Villum Foundation on the programme’s direction, coherence and scientific quality – and maintains regular dialogue with both to support informed decisions and continuous development.
The members: Professor at ETH Zurich, Walther Kaufmann, Professor at UWE-Bristol, Alice Moncaster, Associate Professor Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Leonardo Todisco, Executive Vice President at Niras, Mads Søndergaard – Jens Priergaard Nielsen serves as Secretary (Niras).
Researchers in CEBE
CEBE brings together some of Denmark’s most recognised research talents and leading experts within the built environment. Our programme is built on strong collaboration across universities and a diverse network of researchers. You can view all affiliated researchers by expanding the tabs.
Aalborg University
- Asbjørn Haaning Nielsen, Associate professor, Research Field 5
- Attila Roth, PhD, Research Field 3
- Birgitte Andersen, Associate professor, Research Field 3
- Camilla Marlene Ernst Andersen, Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Research Field 3
- Changlang Wu, PostDoc, Research Field 3
- Dario Parigi, Co-lead Head of Division and Associate Professor, Research Field 3
- Elif Ecem Bas, Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Research Field 3
- Endrit Hoxha, Associate Professor, Research Field 1
- Evangelia Loukou, PhD, Research Field 3
- Harpa Birgisdottir, Lead, Professor and Head of Division, Research Field 1
- Janni Mosekær Nielsen, Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Research Field 5
- Jannie Sønderkær Nielsen, Deputy Head of Department for Education, Head of Studies of Civil Engineering and Associate Professor, Research Field 3
- Jes Vollertsen, Co-lead, Deputy Head of Department for Research and Professor, Research Field 5
- Kirsten Gram-Hanssen, Lead, PhD and Professor, Research Field 6
- Laura Storm Sanchez, Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Research Field 5
- Line Kryger Aagaard, PhD, Post.Doc and Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Research Field 6
- Maria Balouktsi, Associate Professor, Research Field 1
- Markus Schaffer, PhD and Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Research Field 6
- Pablo G. Morato, Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Research Field 3
- Rasmus Nøddegaard Hansen, Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Research Field 1
- Ruut Peuhkuri, Associate Professor, Research Field 3
- Sarah Krogh Iversen, PostDoc, Research Field 5
- Søren Thorndal, Head of Division and Associate Professor, Research Field 5
- Thomas Lykke Andersen, Associate Professor, Research Field 5
- Toke Haunstrup Bach Christensen, Senior Researcher, Research Field 6
Aarhus University
- Andrea Franza, Associate Professor, Research Field 5
- Arka Prabhata Reksowardojo, Ph.D and Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Research Field 7
- Christos Georgakis, Lead, Professor and Head of Section, Research Field 7
- Denis Istrati, Assistant Professor, Research Field 5
- Felipe Prada, Assistant Professor, Research Field 5
- Giuseppe Abbiati, PhD, Research Field 7
- Julie Carøe Kristoffersen, Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Research Field 5
- Kenny Kataoka Sørensen, Professor (Docent), Research Field 5
- Lars Vabbersgaard Andersen, Co-lead and Professor, Research Field 5
- Marco Martino Rosso, Assistant Professor, Research Field 7
- Massimo Fiorentini, Associate Professor, Research Field 6
- Mathias Vedel Thing, PhD, Research Field 7
- Matilde Bruun Sørensen, PhD, Research Field 7
- Michael Dahl Knudsen, Co-lead PhD, Research Field 6
- Pil Brix Purup, Assistant Professor, Research Field 2
- Steffen Petersen, Lead, M.Sc., PhD, Research Field 2
- Tao Yang, PostDoc, Research Field 6
- Thomas Kabel, PhD and Assistant Professor, Research Field 5
University of Southern Denmark
- Benjamin Eichler Stasugaard, PhD, Research Field 6
- Bo Nørregaard Jørgensen, Co-lead, PhD and Head of Centre, Research Field 6
- Christian Koch, Co-lead and Professor, Research Field 2
- Christian Schlette, Section leader and Professor, Research Field 4
- Eyjólfur Ingi Logason, PhD, Research Field 7
- Hampus Fink Gärdström, PhD, Research Field 6
- Henrik Brøner Jørgensen, Co-lead and Associate Professor, Research Field 7
- Henrik Schwarz, PhD, Research Field 6
- Lu Cong, PhD, Research Field 6
- Morten Birkved, Co-lead, Head of Unit and Professor, Research Field 1
- Nadieh Elisabeth Mainen, Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Research Field 7
- Roberto Naboni, Lead and Associate Professor, Research Field 4
- Rune Winther Fabrin Olsen, PhD, Research Field 1
- Simon Soele Madsen, PhD, Research Field 4
- Tom Bourjala, PhD, Research Field 4
Technical University of Denmark
- Alexander Michel, Associate Professor, Research Field 3
- Anders Bjørn, Associate Professor, Research Field 1
- Bo Friis Nielsen, Professor and Head of section, Research Field 3
- Chriatian Langhoff Thuesen, Associate Professor, Research Field 3
- David R. Fuhrman, Professor, Research Field 5
- Eldbjørg Blikra Vea, Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Research Field 1
- Elif Mercan PhD, Research Field 3
- Emil Vang Olsen, PhD, Research Field 6
- Erik Damgaard Christensen, Lead, Professor and Head of section, Research Field 5
- Gunvor Kirkelund, Associate Professor, Research Field 3
- Jan Karlshøj, Co-lead and Associate Professor, Research Field 4
- Jon Spangenberg, Professor and Head of section, Research Field 3
- Jørn Toftum, Co-lead and Professor, Research Field 6
- Linh Cao Hoang, Co-lead and Professor, Research Field 7
- Lisbeth M. Ottosen, Lead, Professor and head of section, Research Field 3
- Michael Zwicky Hauschildt, Co-lead and Professor, Research Field 1
- Mie Them Tybjerg, Project Coordinator, Research Field 3
- Mikolaj Owsianiak, Associate Professor, Research Field 1
- Peter Steen Mikkelsen, Professor, Research Field 5
- Roland Löwe, Associate Professor, Research Field 5
- Sissel Fog Kahr, PhD, Research Field 3
- Stefan Carstensen, Associate Professor, Research Field 5
- Wolfgang Kunther, Associate Professor, Research Field 3
- Thor Dyrbjerg Vestergaard Christiansen, PhD, Research Field 4
- J. Andreas Bærentzen, PhD and Professor, Research Field 4
A Villum Foundation Research Programme 2026 – 2035