Doctoral student in Sustainable and Fire Resilient Built Environment 

Description of the workplace

The Department of Building and Environmental Technology has a stimulating and international environment consisting of PhD students, postdocs and teachers from many parts of the world. Here, research and teaching take place in an open and progressive climate with challenges and collaborations both within academia and with industry partners, both nationally and internationally. The work environment is characterized by commitment, collaboration, creativity and personal responsibility.

This position will be based at the Division of Energy and Building Design (EBD) at LTH, working from the LTH campus in Lund. The division offers a leading-edge and highly international workplace with a focus on the design of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly buildings. The EBD maintains close relationships with relevant industrial stakeholders. The division also delivers a cutting-edge MSc on Energy-efficient and Environmental Building Design, with ample opportunity to explore and test the developed framework in class or through dissertation research. 
More information about the division (edb.lth.se).

The work will develop a framework for a sustainable and fire resilient built environment (SAFR-BE). It is part of a dual research project, with one doctoral student based at the EBD (this opening) and another doctoral student based at the Division of Fire Safety Engineering (FSE). Both projects will be intertwined but the EBD student will start from the sustainability aspects, whereas the FSE student will start from fire resilience.

Research subject

Construction and Architecture (Dep. of Architecture and Built Environment)

Subject and project description

The main challenge to achieving sustainable and fire resilient buildings stems from the inherent connectivity between sustainability and fire safety. A building which is destroyed due to fire before the end of its lifetime is inherently unsustainable in that they require additional resource use during building replacement, but efforts at improving sustainability of the built environment have the potential to impact on the size and frequency of building fires and vice versa. Building designers cannot be experts in every field of engineering or design, therefore there is a need for a methodology that enables specialists from different disciplines to explore the overlap between design choices and how decisions made to achieve one design objective impact on another.

Work duties

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 can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%). You will make a contribution to knowledge in the domain of multi-criterion decision making in building design, developing novel knowledge balancing complex and conflicting requirements and the associated risks. You will focus on architectural and sustainability building performance in particular.

Detailed description of the work duties:

• Exploration of the role of sustainability in current and future building design, architectural and engineering practice.
• Investigate relevant aspects of sustainability when considering fire safety such as energy efficiency, renewable energy production, low carbon emissions, carbon offset strategies, bio-based and re-used building materials, etc.
• Creation of modern approaches and frameworks that simultaneously consider fire safety and sustainability, exploring the interaction, integration and boundaries between both performance aspects.
• Critical reflection on integrated design, multi-criterion decision making and its application in building design.
• Engagement with a range of academic and industrial partners.

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 Construction and Architecture (Dep. Of Architecture and Built Environment) 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.
• Educational background in Energy-Efficient and Environmental Buildings, architectural engineering, environmental building or equivalent.

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:

• Knowledge of multi-criterion design decision making, theoretical and/or practical.
• Knowledge of building performance quantification (simulation, measurement/monitoring)
• Experience in data collection through interviews, surveys, expert panels and similar
• High motivation and a sincere interest in this particular project.

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

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University.

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 §§.

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.).

We look forward to receiving your application.