Doctoral student in Energy-efficient building design with focus on integrative lighting - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Subject description

The doctoral project concerns the integration of daylighting and lighting in office buildings. The project pursues the goal to determine appropriate daylighting and lighting schemes to reach visual and circadian requirements in an energy efficient way and with a high degree of satisfaction for the users. In addition, the project will investigate the overall environmental impact of solutions in connection to the activities of a new Annex of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Energy in Building and Communities Programme (EBC). The project will be based on thorough laboratory and field studies, as well as advanced simulations for daylighting, electric lighting, and environmental impact. 

Research subject:

Architecture and Construction

Work duties

The doctoral work entails:

• Literature review.
• Advanced daylighting, lighting, and environmental impact simulations.
• Daylighting and lighting system design.
• In situ measurements.
• Recruitment of study subjects.
• Questionnaires and interviews with study subjects, and analysis.

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

Admission requirements 

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant: 

• 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 Architecture and Construction if the applicant 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:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Experience with measurement of daylighting and lighting.
• Experience with assessing environmental performance of buildings.
• Skills in building 3D digital modelling and parametric daylighting and lighting simulations.

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:

• Excellence in academic results.
• A Master’s thesis related to the topic of daylight or energy use in buildings.
• Knowledge and experience with the subjects of daylight and lighting design, with focus on non-visual requirements; principles of environmental psychology applied to lighting research; principles of life-cycle assessment and life cycle costing.
• Previous experience with peer-reviewed publications (conference or journal article).
• Previous experience with subjective environmental assessments and data collection activities involving human participants. 
• Experience and participation in previous research related to daylighting or energy or both. 
  Professional work experience in the field of architecture or building construction.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, autonomy 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 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 motivations for this position and correspondance with personal interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents to consider (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.). You are also asked to answer the job specific quesitions.