The successful applicant to this PhD Studentship will contribute to the Faculty Research Centre for Low Impact Buildings (CLIB) and have the opportunity to study under the supervision of key researchers and practionners.

This fully funded PhD opportunity requires an exceptional individual who can contribute to a range of low carbon technologies and their significant opportunities if performance, user and building services related interfaces can be effectively combined.

If you have a great idea for the following, or on similar themes with supporting evidence for research with high impact then please apply to the Centre for Low Impact Buildings.

• Phase change materials for energy storage
• Low temperature heat recovery from waste e.g. drain water
• Smart meters and energy efficiency evaluation for strategic energy decision making for new build and/or refurbishment projects e.g. social housing groups, private or commercial local communities and networks, district energy systems
• Smart metering and sensors for high density populations, regional or national energy infrastructure
• Whole life performance, evaluation and occupant satisfaction of existing multiple energy efficiency projects

The studentship will contribute to research led teaching, high quality publications, and engage with the research strategy of the Faculty and Low Impact Buildings.

Other research themes of CLIB include:

• dynamic performance of materials and building elements
• occupant and owner responses
• whole life-decision making and performance
• smart civic buildings.

CLIB staff enjoy a vibrant environment of collaboration across academic disciplines, other higher education institutions, practionners and industry to ensure that our research has proven impact on the global challenge for sustainability of the built environment.

Candidate specification

• A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the Project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.
• or in the event of a first degree classification of less than 2:1, a Masters Degree in a relevant subject area will be considered as an equivalent. The Masters must have been attained with overall marks at merit level (60%). In addition, the dissertation or equivalent element in the Masters must also have been attained with a mark at merit level (60%).
• the potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a three-year period of study
• a minimum of English language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component)
• relevant disciplines such as building engineering, building services, low carbon technologies
• excellent knowledge of building physics and human factors in evaluating the performance of low carbon technologies
• an understanding of electrical and mechanical building services appropriate to the area of proposed research
• understanding of the local, national or international challenges at policy and cultural levels for the proposed area of research
• demonstrable experience of relevant qualitative and quantitative research techniques
• excellent communication skills with a variety of expert and non-expert stakeholders 

Award details: Tuition Fees + Bursary £13863 per year (tax-free)