EngD Large language models to predict and affect clean energy choices in homes

One third of worldwide CO2 emissions comes from buildings. To reach the climate goals, millions of houses need to switch to cleaner energy. This costs the residents money, time, effort, but can also help alleviate energy poverty for those struggling to pay their energy bills. Governments and housing providers search for ways to incentivize and motivate people for energy transition.

Our project develops tools to facilitate the dialog between social housing providers and their low-income tenants about energy transition, by combining large language models (LLM) with data-driven economic behaviour models. The position is part of a large transdisciplinary grant 'Behaviour, Energy transition, Low income', www.bel-tue.nl.

You will join a team of researchers and practitioners, including urban behavioural scientists (TU/e), natural language processing experts (Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science) and public housing providers. Your research-and-development will build upon existing behavioural models and AI- and data-driven tools of Eindhoven and Leiden universities, aiming to combine and improve them.

This EngD position is a unique opportunity that combines challenging research-and-development in close collaboration with the industry, with on-the-job training and various courses to improve your skills. You will work alternatively at TU/e and University Leiden. At completion of the project an Engineering Doctorate degree is granted.

Work environment and Smart Buildings & Cities (SB&C) program

You join the Urban Systems and Real Estate Group of the Department of the Built Environment of TU/e. TU/e is a world-leading research university specializing in engineering science & technology, and is the world's best-performing university in terms of cooperation between research and industry (#1 since 2009). The Department of the Built Environment is responsible for research and education in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Urban Economics and Real Estate. The department has a strong focus on the highly socially relevant fields of smart and sustainable buildings and cities.

Engineering Doctorate students are part of the Smart Buildings & Cities (SB&C) two-year post-master technological designer program. The program is fully in English and consists of two parts. One part involves post-master level education including courses and seminars about design methods, entrepreneurship and professional skills. The other part is dedicated to an individual design project in collaboration with a company.

The SB&C trains excellent and motivated MSc graduates to become highly qualified technological designers. Our trainees grow into professionals who integrate cutting-edge technologies into new products and services, understand the commercial aspects of these innovations and are able to work in multidisciplinary design teams. The trainee receives an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) degree upon successful completion of the program. The SB&C program is recognized by the CCTO, the Dutch certification institute for technological designer programs.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an international setting with a close relationship to industry. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for two years.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale TOIO  (€2,715).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• To support you during your EngD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will have free access to a personal development program for EngD trainees.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.