EngD in Sustainable summer comfort for future-proof buildings

Are you ready to advance sustainable cooling solutions in high-performance buildings? Join our EngD program at TU/e and shape the future of comfort and energy efficiency.

Your project
The global demand for cooling of buildings is growing rapidly, with heat waves, but also well-insulated building envelopes, contributing to this trend. Innovations such as geo/aquathermal energy systems and targeted (nighttime) ventilation in combination with smart indoor climate control and enhanced occupant-building interaction offer a range of sustainable alternatives for combatting overheating, but such cooling solutions are not yet widely used due to a lack of knowledge and empirical evidence.

We are offering a full-time, two-year trainee position in the EngD program ‘Smart Buildings & Cities’ at TU/e. The goal of this position is to design and improve strategies for sustainable summer comfort in both residential and non-residential buildings. You will analyze in-depth monitoring data from demo buildings combined with the development and application of building performance simulations in EnergyPlus, to assess the effectiveness of various solutions for achieving sustainable summer comfort, with special consideration for occupant behavior and future weather scenarios. The broader Sustainable Summer Comfort project in which this EngD project is embedded, aims to demonstrate these techniques and raise awareness, enabling a shift to energy-efficient cooling systems. As part of this role, you will inform and inspire stakeholders by developing guidelines, educational materials, and best practices, providing insights into comfort levels and energy consumption for the different system systems.

Smart Buildings & Cities EngD Program
The Smart Buildings & Cities EngD program wants to contribute to the transition towards smart, intelligent, and sustainable cities where the quality of life for residents is high. This transition requires new solutions which can only be created through multiscale and transdisciplinary (design) approaches.

The program consists of two main parts running in parallel:

• One part of the program consists of post-graduate level education in the form of generic design projects and courses about design methods, entrepreneurship, management and extra attention is paid to developing of professional skills. The education part also includes several technical courses about topics relevant to SBC.
• The other part of the program is dedicated to an individual design project in collaboration with a company or with a consortium of companies and organizations, who work together on a subsidies project. It is the trainee’s main responsibility to manage and execute (own part of) the project. Each trainee is supported by an advisor from the company and a supervisor from the university.

We are looking for an excellent and highly motivated candidate with:

• a MSc degree in Architectural Engineering, Building Science, Building, Civil, Mechanical or Environmental Engineering, or equivalent. Interest in physical processes (heat, air and moisture transfer) in the built environment and indoor environmental quality is essential.
• experience in computational building performance simulation (e.g. EnergyPlus, Trnsys or IDA ICE) and data analysis using e.g. Python or Matlab.
• an academic attitude in order to develop new technologies and perform applied research with an integral view of what is needed for the future built environment
• an excellent command of the English language, both in speaking and writing
• a design-oriented attitude
• ability to work in a team and interested in collaborating with the industrial partners.

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 (€ 2,872).
• 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.

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Roel Loonen, Associate Professor at r.c.g.m.loonen@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HRServices.BE@tue.nl.

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