Doctoral student in Construction and Architecture with focus on solar neighborhood planning - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Subject description
The position is placed at the Division of Energy and Building Design, Department of Architecture and Built Environment. Energy and Building Design focuses on aims and means to create energy-efficient buildings and urban areas, to utilise solar energy and daylight, and to achieve high thermal and visual indoor and outdoor comfort. More information can be found at www.ebd.lth.se.

Project description
The focus of the position is to participate in the studies of strategies and supporting methods and tools in order to achieve solar neighborhoods that ensure long-term solar access for energy production and for daylighting buildings and outdoor environments – resulting in sustainable and healthy environments. The types of support include strategies for the design of new and existing communities with a focus on passive and active solar energy. Planning strategies and concepts will be developed and tested for increased solar energy capture and utilization in neighborhoods, in view of achieving net zero energy (NZE), net zero carbon (NZC) status or other goals in the era of the low-carbon energy transition.

The doctoral student will mainly focus on the workflow of tools needed to support decisions in all planning stages. The goal is to develop a roadmap for improved workflows and solar planning tools needed in all planning stages, in collaboration with international experts. These studies will also involve active participation in Swedish case studies to bind close ties to practice and implementation. Such cases serve as a platform for an exchange of experiences from practice, including testing strategies and tools and interviews with stakeholders.

The work will be carried out within an international research project; International Energy Agency (IEA), the Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC), Task 63: Solar Neighborhood Planning. Experts from approximately 10-12 countries are planning to participate in the project that starts in autumn 2019 and ends in autumn 2023. More information can be found at http://task63.iea-shc.org/.

Work duties
The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in the research project and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

The participation in the above mentioned international project requires travelling to project meetings abroad (mostly in Europe), twice a year and together with the tutor from Energy and Building Design.

Admission requirements
A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in the research subject of Construction and Architecture (TEABAF00) if he or she has:

• at least 90 credits in subjects of relevance to the field including at least 60 second-cycle credits and a second-cycle degree project of at least 30 credits in the field, or
• a second-cycle degree in a relevant field. 

Additional requirements:

• Master’s degree in energy-efficient and environmental buildings, architecture, civil engineering or equivalent degree.
• Documented good knowledge in energy-efficient building design, especially in linking technology and architecture.
• Experience in using simulation tools for the analyses of energy performance of buildings, solar energy utilization (such as passive solar energy, daylighting, active solar energy), visualization and/or multi-criteria and optimization studies for buildings and/or neighborhoods.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Assessment criteria
Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
3. Written and oral communication skills.
4. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

Other assessment criteria:

• A genuine interest in both architectural and technical aspects, and in a system approach.
• Oral and written communication in Swedish.
• Good skills in communication with people from different professional backgrounds, e.g. related to involved companies/organizations, universities and municipalities in Sweden and other countries.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment
Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

You are also requested to reply to the questions that constitute the first step in the application procedure.