Salary: null

Applications are invited for an EPSRC iCASE PhD Studentship to be held in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge. The studentship will investigate the fluid dynamics of low-energy buildings.

Buildings are responsible for about 40% of electricity use in Europe and contribute to approximately 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. Research over the past 20 years has led the design and construction of advanced low-energy buildings, which use natural ventilation and interact symbiotically with the external environment to maintain comfortable internal conditions. The design of these buildings raises many fluid dynamical challenges and a many questions remain outstanding. An important aspect is how natural convection and mixing processes lead to vertical and horizontal temperature variations within spaces which affect occupant comfort and energy consumption. This project will use scaled laboratory experiments and computational fluid dynamics to develop theoretical models of the fluid dynamics of advanced naturally ventilated buildings. The project will look specifically at the behaviour of tall spaces, such as atria and ventilation chimneys, in which a variety of natural convection processes are important. Theoretical design models are not currently available for such spaces and this project has the potential to make significant impact in the field.

The industrial sponsor for the project will be Arup who are an international consultancy at the forefront of innovative building design. The candidate will be expected to spend to some part of the studentship at the industrial sponsor's offices in London working on the practical implementation of the theoretical models developed including live design projects.

The successful candidate will have a 1st or 2.1 in Mathematics, Physics or Engineering. An interest in architecture and sustainable building design would be an advantage.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3.5 years in the first instance.

For enquiries please contact Prof. Paul Linden (pfl4<στο>cam.ac.uk, tel, 01223 337890).  Applications for this studentship, that provides funding only for UK residents, should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae and the names of two academic referees, and be emailed to LE05348<στο>maths.cam.ac.uk.

If (s)he has not already done so the successful applicant will be required to apply formally to the University by the closing date for the course and meet the University's requirements for admissions: :http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/gradadmissions/prospec/apply/'

Please quote reference LE05348 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity. The Department would particularly welcome applications from women as we have an historic imbalance in the number of women holding PhD Studentships.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.