Buildings are air-conditioned on a uniform and constant temperature regime. This results in a high-energy consumption. A constant temperature is associated with a high comfort experience. However, comfort and health are not synonyms. Research from Maastricht University shows that temporal exposure to mild cold can strongly improve people's health by activating brown fat and by improving glucose metabolism. Moreover, people can adapt well to a variation in indoor climate. The TKI Urban Energy project DYNKA adds a new dimension to this: light, as an environmental factor that can influence health and comfort. Therefore it is hypothesized that the use of dynamic LED light in a dynamic indoor climate can favorably influence the sleep-wake rhythm, comfort, health, and productivity, while reducing the energy consumption of the building.

DYNKA focuses on two aspects: improving health and well-being and, on the other hand, reducing building energy consumption by the interaction between dynamic LED light and ambient temperature. Finally, DYNKA will develop concrete installation concepts for innovative dynamic office systems.

Dynka is a close collaboration between the University of Maastricht, the Eindhoven University of Technology, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences and companies Philips Lighting, Huygen Installatie Adviseurs, Kropman Installatietechniek, Almende en ISSO. Studies will take place in the Metabolic Research Unit of Maastricht, and in a real life living lab environment at Technical University of Eindhoven.

We are looking for an ambitious PhD student with a strong interest in human physiology and thermoregulation. Special interest is required in how dynamic indoor temperature conditions affect human physiology and metabolic health. The candidate should have interest in performing detailed laboratory experiments in respiration/climate chambers, and in ding studies in real life living lab conditions. Besides working on optimization of dynamic indoor environments, the candidate will study identification and development of Key Health Indicators for use in mobile devices (daily activity level, heart rate, blood pressure, etc.). Previous experience studying human participants is recommended. Candidates should have a recent Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences, Biology, or Building Physics, Mechanical, Civil engineering.

The candidate should be able to function in a multidisciplinary environment and cooperate with other PhD students.

Fixed-term contract: Temporary.

Your salary would be € 2.222,- gross per month in the first year up to € 2.840,- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-student salary scale.

Each year an evaluation will take place.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply.

For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl , Support/UM employees/Employment conditions.

Contract type: Temporary, 4 Years

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 16,300 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

NUTRIM - Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences

NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism initiates and catalyzes translational research into nutritional health benefits and risks focusing on metabolic and chronic inflammatory diseases. Through its research master and PhD programme NUTRIM aims to educate scientists of high academic excellence and ambassadors to support and develop the filed of nutrition, metabolism and toxicology within and outside the Netherlands. 16 Biomedical, clinical, and behavioural-science departments are incorporated within NUTRIM. The school is a partner in the national Top Institutes TI Food&Nutrition, TI-Pharma and the Centre for Translational Molecular Medicine (CTMM). These unique consortia of government, industry and research aim to stimulate the transfer of knowledge generated in fundamental research to Dutch industry and thus to strengthen its innovative power and competitive strength.

https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/school-nutrition-and-translational-research-metabolism