About the Project
The UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering invites applications for a fully-funded PhD studentship focusing on applying fit-for-purpose occupant models in the simulation-aided design processes aiming for high performance built environments.
Details:
• Supervisor: Dr Farhang Tahmasebi, Prof Dejan Mumovic
• Scholarship covers: 4 years tuition fees (UK/EU rate); 4 years stipend (£17,285 for 2020/21, rising slightly with inflation each year)
• Start Date: Autumn 2020
• Funded by: EPSRC (DTP)
• Funding Duration: 4 years
• Eligibility: In addition to UCL's academic requirements for admittance to Doctoral study, this studentship is subject to the following eligibility criteria https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/eligibility/
Background
The supervisory team co-leads a subtask in IEA-EBC Annex 79 to develop, demonstrate and deploy human-in-the-loop methodologies to design buildings that are comfortable, adaptable and energy-efficient. To this end, the present project specifically investigates the challenges regarding the realization of occupant-centric simulation-aided design strategies.
Aim
The study aims to:
Systematically review standards, practices and projects involving performance-based simulation-assisted design with a focus on representation of occupants
Develop methods and guidelines to choose the most appropriate occupant modelling approaches across scales, building types, design stages, climates, and modelling objectives
Develop, test, and document simulation-based design procedures, including robust design, parametric performance-based design and design optimization.
Person Specification
The candidate will need strong analytical skills and an aptitude for parametric building performance simulation, building physics and data analysis. Candidates should have:
• A bachelor’s degree awarded with a minimum of upper second-class (2:1) honours, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard from a recognised higher education institute.
• A Masters degree in engineering, building design, environmental sciences or other relevant disciplines. Candidates without a Masters degree may be admitted where suitable research or professional experience is demonstrated.
• A strong appreciation of building physics and building design process.
• Experience of building performance simulation and occupant behaviour modelling is desirable.
• Excellent numerical and computing skills.
• The ability to use own initiative, prioritise workload and work as part of a team.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written).
Application Procedure
Email a pre-application to [Email Address Removed] with “ESPRC Fit-for-purpose occupant modelling” as the subject. Do not use the UCL online admissions system.
The deadline for applications is: 09.00 am (BST), Monday, 13th July 2020
Please include:
• A covering letter, clearly stating your motivation and your eligibility (see earlier)
• Your CV, including examples of any published paper where applicable.
• The names and addresses of two academic referees.
• A copy of your degree certificate(s) and transcript(s) of degree(s).
• A short research proposal (max. 1000 words), which includes a brief summary of the key literature in the field, and outlines possible approaches to the research questions/methods, taking into consideration the project’s aims.
Informal enquiries on the content of the research topic should be emailed to Dr Farhang Tahmasebi ([Email Address Removed]).
Interviews will be held online on Monday 20 July 2020
