Fully funded PhD studentship in building physics simulations and indoor air quality assessment

Post Title:Fully funded PhD studentship in building physics simulations and indoor air quality assessment

Application deadline: 29th of February 2024

Post duration: 4 Years

Project description:

The applicant will work on an interdisciplinary project (the ALIGN project) to assess the multi-faceted issues between the energy-health-policy nexus relating to energy poverty funded by the Sustainable Development Authority of Ireland (SEAI). This collaborative project includes different workpackages simultaneously conducted at Maynooth University, Dublin City University and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). As a part of this team, the successful applicant will have regular meetings with these research collaborators, which gives significant opportunities for experience in an interdisciplinary team. 

Applications are invited for a PhD student to join the ALIGN project team. The PhD student’s research will employ dynamic building physics models to simulate airflow and thermal characteristics, ventilation and indoor environmental quality, quantifying how energy poverty metrics impact physical mechanisms within buildings. Advanced data-driven models will assess indicators based on regional and national factors. This student will be co-supervised by Dr James McGrath (Primary Supervisor, Maynooth University) and Dr Miriam Byrne (Secondary Supervisor, University of Galway). 

This student will join Dr McGrath’s research group, which focuses on fundamental and applied research in the field of indoor built environment, where he focuses on indoor environmental quality, aerosol science and building ventilation. His recent work has concentrated on assessing climate change adaptation measures and implications for large-scale national retrofit. 

The successful candidate should be highly self-motivated and have a demonstrable interest in fields related to indoor/outdoor air pollution, building energy performance or building physics. 

In addition, the candidate must have the following qualifications/skills: 

•First or Upper Second Class Honours degree and/or Masters level in a Physical Science or Engineering, or equivalent discipline 

•Be prepared to work in a multidisciplinary environment

•Excellent verbal and written communication (English language) skills

•Experience with computational programme and/or building simulations

•Excellent interpersonal skills

•Willingness to learn computational modelling approaches to understand indoor air pollution, ventilation and energy status of buildings

The studentship will provide an annual stipend (tax-free) of €25,000 and PhD tuition fees will be covered for a maximum of 4 years. The student will be based at the Department of Experimental Physics at Maynooth University and aligned with their various research Institutes.

The successful candidate will be offered opportunities for developing their career in several directions:

•Computational skills

oIn addition to specific training in building physics, airflow modelling and pollutant transportation, the student will gain exposure to various computational tools.

•Environmental and ventilation monitoring 

oThere will be an opportunity to develop expertise in state-of-the-art indoor air quality monitoring for gaseous and particle measurements.

•Data Science 

oThere will be an opportunity to develop expertise in data analytics and statistical expertise from analysing the large datasets generated by computational models. 

•Policy experience

oExposure to policy and health guidelines will be gained by contributing as a scientific advisor to public bodies by developing specific retrofit recommendations.

For informal discussions, contact Dr James McGrath at [email protected]

Application Procedure: 

Applicants should send a cover letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae describing their research experience and interests, including names and contact details of 2 referees, and peer-reviewed articles (if any) by the 29th of February 2024 to Dr James McGrath: [email protected] Please include “ALIGN PhD Studentship” in the subject of your e-mail. Those who are shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.  

There are additional opportunities to apply for alternative PhD fellowships with Dr McGrath at Maynooth University. Topic: 'Developing a Climate-Resilient Sustainable Building Stock: Investigating the Implications of Future Climate Changes on the Indoor Environment'. Please contact Dr McGrath to discuss working on a scholarship applicant. https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/graduate-research-academy/john-pat-hume-doctoral-awards/research-topics 

Maynooth University Department of Experimental Physics has a strong commitment to promoting equality and diversity, and holds an Institute of Physics Juno Practitioner award and an Athena SWAN Bronze award -  https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/equality-charters/international-charters/athena-swan-ireland/award-holders