Doctoral student in Building Services Engineering with focus on renovation and adaptive reuse of buildings (PA2023/837)

The discupline of Building Services deals with - in the light of human environmental requirements - buildings' room climate and energy supply, services systems for heating, cooling, ventilation, water, sanitation and electricity and their interaction with the building in general towards a sustainable future. The scientific field includes theoretical and experimental analyzes of building services and technical systems. System optimization with a special focus on collaboration between the building services and the building in general, operation and maintenance of the systems and low energy use.  

Building Services has just over 10 employees, some of whom are doctoral students. The workplace is in the V-huset in Lund, but many of the projects take place in various forms of collaboration within and outside Lund University. 

The cities of the future are already built – but they need to become more climate-smart and socially sustainable. To get there, we need to get better at renovating, transforming and densifying in a wise way. There is a housing shortage in several parts of the country, while many offices are currently empty. To solve the problem without having to demolish and build new, we need to get better at rebuilding existing premises. If new housing can be found in the already existing city, and additionally furnished with recycled materials, new homes can be created with a fraction of the climate impact that a newly built house would entail. The research school ASSURE Adaptation of urban Space through Sustainable Re-generation is about transforming our existing built environments into something more sustainable. A total of eight doctoral students will be part of the research school, which has a practical and interdisciplinary approach.

In this research project, the PhD student will analyze the renovation and adaptation of buildings to meet future needs and conditions with a focus on the building's technical services, energy use and indoor environment. How should pipe systems, heating and cooling systems as well as ventilation systems and other possible services be renovated and adapted to meet the requirements of new use and new conditions? Several functional requirements will need to be considered, e.g. accessibility, fire safety, ensuring daylight and lighting as well as indoor air quality, at the same time that consideration must be given to energy use and limited resource extraction by preserving materials and components as far as possible to reduce climate impact. 

The PhD student will use quantitative methods for system design, indoor environment simulations, energy calculations, life cycle analysis, cost analysis and measurements in real buildings, but also qualitative methods such as interviews and surveys with stakeholders and users.

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%) in the area of Building Services in cooperation with the division of Building Physics.

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 Building Services  Engineering if the applicant has: 

• at least 90 credits relevant to the subject area, of which at least 60 second-cycle credits (advanced level) and an in-depth project of at least 30 second-cycle credits within the subject area, or
• a second-cycle degree (advanced level degree) in the relevant subject area. 

• Good oral and written proficiency in English.

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: 

Other assessment criteria:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in Swedish. 
• Knowledge relevant to the research project described above, for example in technical systems in buildings and their design, simulations and programming.

Consideration will also be given to 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.

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 . 

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 §§.

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 asked to answer the job specific questions. 

Welcome to apply!