Phd Candidate In Airborne Microbial Pollutant And Ventilation In Hospital Environments

5 Apr 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - NTNU

Research Field

Engineering
Engineering
Medical sciences
Physics

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Established Researcher (R3)

Country

Norway

Application Deadline

24 Apr 2024 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

H2020 / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

About the job

The Department of Energy and Process Engineering has a vacancy for a 3-year PhD position in indoor environment quality, airborne microbial pollutant and ventilation in hospital environments.

The position is in the frame of a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Doctoral Network (DN) action for Doctoral Candidates within the project HumanIC (Human - Centric Indoor Climate for Healthcare facilities). The HumanIC network is composed by 8 universities, 2 hospitals and 9 companies/institutions to train early stage engineers and scientists to enable a new approach to the human-centric indoor climate in Healthcare Environments. In total, the HumanIC network consists of 11 Doctoral Candidates (DCs). Rather than the traditional approach of focusing solely on the building and its ventilation/heating systems, the network will develop new approaches to integrate the multi-dynamic interaction between contamination sources and airflow distribution systems with the clinical, patient and energy requirements of the hospital environment. More information can be found on the project website .

Through an ambitious research programme and a tailored training programme, HumanIC will provide a new generation of scientists and engineers who understand the implications of these complex interfaces in future hospital design. In building the HumanIC consortium we will actively promote healthcare environment engineering as an inclusive and diverse career option at all stages in the programme.

Background

The human-centric indoor climate (HCC) is defined as the microenvironment which surrounds and is close to a human body. The HCC concept focuses on human beings and surrounding environment, which should be understood as a specific microenvironment more than just the ‘physical neighborhood’ of a human body. The HCC in hospitals plays a vital role in enabling safe and effective provision of healthcare. Operating rooms (ORs), isolation rooms, treatment rooms and laboratory facilities all enable increasingly sophisticated treatment to be safely delivered to patients, while wards, consulting rooms and waiting rooms provide essential facilities for the interaction of patients and their comfort and wellbeing during recovery. However, there are significant challenges of HCC within hospital environments. Over 4 million patients are estimated to acquire a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) in the EU each year, and on any given day, about 80 000 patients have at least one HAI, i.e. one in every 18 patients in European hospitals.

NTNU invite applicants for a PhD Fellowship Environment Engineering to research in “Characterizing distribution of airborne microbial pollutants due to human activities in hospital environments”. The research topic will be contextualized in WP1 “Structure of new scientific knowledge on the physical mechanisms for pathogen exposure and engineering strategies for controlling risk”, being supervised by Professor Guangyu Cao and Prof. Laurent Georges at EPT, NTNU, Dr. Amir Khan from University of Leeds and Prof. Sasan Sadrizadeh from KTH and with secondments in University of Leeds (3 months) to learn new experience to perform modelling of time dependent dispersion of airborne microbial pollutants from various human activities and in KTH (3 months) to gain experience of numerical methods and development of a numerical source models. The PhD candidate will form part of the research team at EPT, NTNU. Your immediate leader is Head of Department.

The PhD candidate will acquire expertise in interdisciplinary fields, gaining through this training program a set of skills that are highly appreciated by health care facilities, providing him/her a valuable expertise background for a future career in the topics related to technical solutions for healthcare facilities. 

Duties of the position

An Initial Research Project (IRP) in HumanIC will be assigned to the PhD candidate (DC02) at the beginning of the fellowship. The PhD candidate (DC02) will have the responsibility of executing all the tasks described in the IRP of DC02, which will involve research and organization tasks, mobility requirements, milestone accomplishments and deliverable submission. The PhD candidate (DC02) will primarily work on research activities carried out as part of the research project HumanIC. The position will focus on the experimental data collection and modelling of the generation and short-range distribution of airborne microbial pollutant from human activities in hospital environments. For example, a non exhaustive list of tasks to be carried out in this PhD research covers:

• to develop a comprehensive experimental protocol for characterizing the generation and short-range distribution of airborne microbial particles in operating rooms during real-time operation and in a realistic, full-scale operating room laboratory setting;
• to perform measurements of the generation and short-range distribution of airborne microbial pollutants resulting from various human activities in hospital environments;
• to develop a series of models that will be derived from experimental measurement to characterize the different sources of airborne microbial particles in hospital operating room environments;
• to validate numerical model that simulates the generation and short-range distribution of airborne microbial pollutants resulting from human activities in operating room healthcare environments;
• to evaluate of the human exposure risk of patient and surgical staff exposure risk associated with airborne microbial pollutants in healthcare environments by considering various factors such as source strength, generation and distribution patterns, indoor airflow pattern and ventilation systems.
• to cooperate with other research groups at partner universities/research institutes for the evaluation and optimisation of the experimental methods
• enroll in the PhD program at NTNU, and carry out all the activities required to make a high-quality PhD dissertation within the expected timeframe. Publications in high impact-factor international journals are expected. 

Essential qualifications

A PhD candidate is a qualification position in which the main objective is qualification for work in academic positions.

• The position is subject to external funding, EU MARIE Skłodowska-CURIE ACTIONS Doctoral Networks (DN) Call: HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01-01. Please check your eligibility according to the official eligibility requirements and application procedure, i.e. you must have obtained your master degree in the last 4 years. You also need to fulfill the mobility rule of EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, ‘Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Norway for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their date of recruitment’ and other rules on the following EU website: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/doctoral-networks .

Applications of candidates not fulfilling these eligibility conditions will not be considered. 

• Completion of a master degree in mechanical engineering (HVAC), civil/mechanical/building engineering, measurement technology, physics, medicine or other relevant fields, or corresponding foreign master degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian master degree is required.
  • Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at master’s level.
  • You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master’s degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
  • You must must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty’s doctoral program (https://www.ntnu.edu/iv/doctoral-programme ).
  • Proven skills/track record in the relevant areas of research: experimental measurement and modelling of the generation and short-range distribution of airborne microbial pollutant from human activities.
  • Interest in communication and dissemination of research results, including participation in project related activities and fulfilling the obligations.
  • Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills.

 Applicants who are in the final phase of their master's degree are also encouraged to apply, but have to complete the master before starting the fellowship. 

• Qualifications in at least three of the following:
• Strong theoretical background in most of these topics: fluid dynamics of airflow, microbiological pollutants, ventilation, indoor air quality, airborne pollutants and heat and mass transport  
• Previous experience with data acquisition and measurement of airborne pollutants and other indoor environmental parameters
• Competence of modelling airflow distribution and airborne pollutants distribution
• Previous experience in computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation of airborne pollutants and airflow distribution in rooms
• Expertise with the following topics: fluid dynamics of airflow, microbiological pollutants, ventilation, indoor air quality, airborne pollutants and heat and mass transport

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Phd candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate  and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant 

Desirable qualifications 

Documented qualifications in the following list will be considered as advantage for this position:

Knowledge and first-hand experience with data acquisition and measurement of airborne microbial particles.

Competence of modelling airborne microbial particles due to human activities in rooms with different ventilation solutions.

Experience of using PIV/PTV for turbulent airflow distribution and airborne particle distribution.

Knowledge and competence in computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation of generation and short-range distribution of airborne microbial particle from human activities, airflow distribution in rooms.

Familiarity with latest concepts, systems and solutions of hospital ventilation.

Fluency in one or more software language for either general programming (CFD, Python, Matlab etc.) or data acquisition (Labview etc).

Knowledge of the relevant international standards concerning the performance assessment/measurement of different phenomena in buildings in the field of infection control in hospital environment.

Excellent English language skills (both oral and written). English level certification B2 will be required if English is not the native language. 

Publications in international journals/conferences will be valued.

Prior experience on any of these topics will be valued: airflow distribution, measurement of airborne microbial particles, simulation of airborne microbial pollutants.

Personal characteristics

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities such as being an academic team player, creative, analytical, self-driven, flexible and an engaged scholar. We will also highlight ability to work independently and in a team. Candidates who are innovative and creative, and have an open mind, will be valued. 

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement. Motivation, ambitions and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

You must be eligible to enroll or be enrolled in the PhD program of Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment  with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

HumanIC project is aimed to train 11 creative and innovative researchers in the field of civil engineering, mechanical engineering and environmental engineering. The researchers trained in this network will be able to convert state-of-the art knowledge and ideas into new products for airflow distribution, air quality control, bacteria distribution, human comfort, including patients and medical staff. As a trained researcher you will have many opportunities to develop an industrial career in any part of the world, but especially in the EU. You will be trained in air chemistry and biology, air pollution, air thermodynamics, human thermophysiology and psychology, air flow patterns, civil engineering, energy performance, smart buildings, civil engineering. You will conduct research under laboratory and actual conditions. You will learn numerical modelling and advanced visualization methods. You also will be in a very good position to join R+D departments of Air-conditioning Companies and to apply for a postdoc position in any of the top EU academic institutions.

Salary and conditions

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 532 200 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The grant covers up to 3 years of full time research according to salary table established in the grant for Norway. Therefore, the period of employment is 3 years.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Engineering, (https://www.ntnu.edu/iv/doctoral-programm e) within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period. 
 
The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants , and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.  After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work. 

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.

About the application

All application documents must be uploaded containing the curriculum vitae, Master's Degree title and scores, a letter of interest, letters by three references and other relevant materials. Please note that applications which do not follow the announcement's guidelines will not be considered. 

The application must include:

• A cover letter, which describes why you are the best suitable candidate for this position. (Maximum 1-page A4 size)
• CV and certificates
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not completed the master’s degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master’s thesis has been submitted. Applicants invited for interview must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters.
• A copy of the master’s thesis. If you recently have submitted your master’s thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master’s degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Project proposal
• Publications and other academic works that the applicant would like to be considered in the evaluation must accompany the application (up to 5 works). Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify the individual applicant's contribution to joint works, the applicant must include a brief description of his or her contribution.
• Name, current affiliation and email address of three referees should be included. If referee does not respond to our request within time limit, your application may not be shortlisted.

Candidates are required to submit a one-page sketch on how they plan to use their scientific background and research ambitions to address the research challenges of this position. You should describe ideas for future investigations; it is understood that the topic may not be your specialty – the key is to demonstrate understanding of excellent experimental research in the context of this position. Examples of our recent projects and publications that are related to this project, refer to: https://www.ntnu.edu/ept/laboratories/or-lab

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor’s and master’s education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here . If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. It is necessary to include a Diploma Supplement with European Masters Diplomas from outside Norway. Applicants with Master's Diplomas from China are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI): http://www.chsi.com.cn/en/ . 

Applications will be marked and ranked according to the Academic curriculum, professional and research activities and technical and transversial skills, as well as the coherence with the research topics of the position. 

Please note that your application will be considered solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Fransisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is our strength. We want to recruit people with different competencies, educational backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to solving our social responsibilities within education and research. We will facilitate for our employees’ needs. A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. The national labour force must reflect the composition of the population to the greatest possible extent.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality .

EPT has established EPT Women in Science. The group is focused on supporting female PhD Candidates, Postdoctoral Fellows, Research Assistants and permanent academic employees within the Department. This support aims to help develop the careers of female PhD Candidates, Postdocs and Research Assistants, and is also made visible to our student body to encourage them to consider an academic path. As part of the EPT Women in Science initiative we are building an international network, inviting prominent female academics within and beyond the field of Engineering to speak at our events. NTNU aims to increase the proportion of women in its scientific posts. Women are encouraged to apply.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation . You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted. Under the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova), information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to have their name entered on the list of applicants.

For more information, please contact: Professor Guangyu Cao, tel. +47 91897689, email: [email protected] . If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Cathrine Kyung Ja Kravik, e-mail: [email protected] .

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.

Application deadline: 24.04.2024.

Further Information

EU Research project

The research project is financed by HORIZON-MSCA-2022 Doctoral Networks (DN). Grant Agreement from EU portal: 101119726. The position has reservation on financial support from the HORIZON-MSCA-2022 project: Human - Centric Indoor Climate for Healthcare Facilities (EU project number 101119726).

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Energy and Process Engineering

We conduct research and teaching covering the entire energy chain, from resources to the end-user. We look at how energy is produced and used by humans and machines in a sustainable way with regard to health, climate change and the resource base. The Department of Energy and Process Engineering  is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

Questions about the position

Guangyu Cao
Professor
[email protected]

Laurent Georges
Professor
[email protected]

Deadline 24th April 2024
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Høgskoleringen 1, 7491 Trondheim

Requirements
Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - NTNU

Country

Norway

City

Trondheim

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/unijobs/listing/368704/phd-candidate-in-ai…

Contact

City

Trondheim

STATUS: EXPIRED