Buildings are nowadays air-conditioned on a uniform constant temperature regime with uniform artificial lighting conditions. This results in a high energy consumption. A constant temperature is generally associated with a high comfort experience and satisfaction.

However, it is known that acceptance and comfort levels differ substantially between individuals. Studies of the Maastricht University indicate that more varying indoor conditions are healthy and also reduce building energy consumption. Moreover, light intensity and colour are important environmental factors that both affect our health and interact with our thermal experience. On top of that, some personal control of the environmental conditions is related to a higher satisfaction.

It is therefore hypothesized that the use of dynamic LED light and a dynamic indoor temperature regime can favorably influence the sleep-wake rhythm, comfort, health and productivity, and that personal control of indoor conditions positively affects satisfaction and well-being with the environment.

PERDYNKA focuses on local individual control of dynamic LED light and indoor temperature conditions with two goals: 1) improving health, well-being and productivity, and 2) reducing building energy consumption.

PERDYNKA will develop real building installation concepts and controls for innovative personal dynamic office systems.

PERDYNKA is a close collaboration between Maastricht University, Eindhoven University of Technology, and companies Philips Lighting, Huygen Installatie Adviseurs and Almende. Studies will take place in the Metabolic Research Unit of Maastricht University, and in a real life living lab environment at Eindhoven University of Technology. The candidate will be supervised by Prof. dr. Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt (MU – NUTRIM, 1st Promotor) and Prof.dr.ir. Yvonne de Kort (TU/e – HTI, 2nd Promotor).

We are looking for an ambitious PhD candidate with a strong interest in human physiology and thermoregulation. Special interest is required in how personal control of the indoor light and temperature conditions affect human physiology, well-being and productivity. The candidate should have interest in performing detailed laboratory experiments in respiration/climate chambers, and in doing studies in real life living lab conditions.

Previous experience studying human participants is recommended. Candidates should have a recent Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences, Experimental Psychology, Biology, Human-Technology Interaction, or Building Physics.

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

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Temporary employment for 4 years. 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-candidate 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.

Maastricht University

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 School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism

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