Climate change on indoor air quality and energy nexus

Professor Zhiwen Luo is looking for a PhD student to work on the research project Climate change on indoor air quality and energy nexus.

With fast urbanization, industrialization and transportation development in China, many Chinese cities suffer disastrous outdoor PM2.5 pollutions. In Beijing, for example, the annual average PM2.5 concentrations in 2001–2004 ranged from 96.5 to 106.7 μg/m3 ,which was ten times the WHO Global Air Quality Guideline (AQG) (10 μg/m3)(Kan, Chen, & Tong, 2012).Exposure to PM2.5 is associated with negative health impacts, including cerebrovascular disease (stroke), respiratory infections, cardiopulmonary disorders, ischemic heart disease, and even mortality. However, the majority of the exposure actually occurs indoors as people spend about 90% of their time indoors, and the outdoor pollutants can penetrate into building interior space and cause indoor exposure to ambient origins.

Affordable while effective interventions are needed to be investigated to reduce the indoor exposure risk to outdoor PM2.5 pollutions. The health benefits and economic costs of those interventions differ significantly, and remain largely unquantified. As a developing country such as China and India with limited resources, there is emerging need to prioritize and identify the most cost-effective solution. The overarching aim of the proposed project is to evaluate and prioritize the potential health benefit and economic cost of different intervention strategies in order to reduce the indoor exposure to outdoor PM2.5 pollutions.

This project target to study an integrated system covering both indoors and outdoors by adopting various advanced air quality and building energy modelling approaches. Applicants are expected to have a very good bachelor’s or master’s degree in the subjects of architectural science, building service engineering, environmental engineering or related subject. Programming skills are preferred. Previous experience on CFD or indoor/outdoor air quality modelling is especially welcome. The PhD student will join a vibrant research group, building environmental engineering, comprised of leading experts in the areas of urban microclimate, indoor air health and architecture and building design.

If English is not your first language you must fulfil our English Language criteria before the start of your studies. Details of accepted English Language qualifications for admissions can be found here https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/international/english-language-requirements/postgraduate.

How to Apply

Please contact Professor Zhiwen Luo ([Email Address Removed]) for informal enquiries. Interested applicants are encouraged to email their CV and a brief statement of purpose to Professor Luo.

To apply, please complete the online application (Architecture - Study - Cardiff University) and state the project title and supervisor name.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive environment for all. We welcome applications from all members of the global community irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.