Research Associate (504019)

Faculty of Engineering

Term: Fixed (24 months)

Across the developed world, Governments are setting aggressive goals to achieve a net zero energy system by 2050. As a major energy consumer, improving the energy performance of the built environment will be key to achieving these goals. Building performance simulation has emerged as an essential tool to improve the energy and environmental performance of new and existing buildings. However, building performance appraisal must continue to evolve, through the development of new computational approaches and tools, to meet the many challenges posed by the net-zero transition. These challenges include the integration of new, local zero-carbon generation and energy storage into buildings, the use of new materials in the building fabric, new energy vectors such as hydrogen, the integration of electric vehicle loads to building demand, and the use of smart controls to coordinate energy supply, storage and demand to minimise energy costs and emissions without compromising functionality. Moreover, there is also a need to close the so-called ‘performance gap’ between the predictions of simulation tools and the actual performance of buildings.

The Energy Systems Research Unit (ESRU) within the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, has a longstanding, international reputation for the development and advancement of building simulation software and its application in leading UK and international research projects. An opportunity has arisen for a Research Associate to join the team at ESRU and assist in the delivery of our large and varied portfolio of built environment research and knowledge exchange projects.

The Research Associate will liaise with the existing team of researchers within the ESRU, and with researchers and co-investigators from leading international research groups collaborating in these projects.

Educated to a minimum of PhD level in an engineering or science discipline, with experience in in mechanical or electrical engineering applies to the built environment. You will have demonstrable track record in the application of building performance simulation tools for research purposes and ideally experience in the development or adaptation of software to meet research goals. You will have an ability to plan and organise your own workload, with a developing ability to conduct individual research work, to disseminate results and to prepare research proposals and journal/ conference papers. You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to influence a range of stakeholders in both industry and academia. You will have an ability to listen, engage and persuade, as well as present complex information in an accessible way to a range of audiences and you will be able to work as part of a team.

Whilst not essential for the role, applications are welcomed from candidates with experience of data acquisition technologies and the monitoring of real building performance together with relevant work experience, membership of an appropriate Chartered/professional bodies (including the Higher Education Academy) and/or experience of knowledge exchange related activities.

Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Mr Cameron Johnstone, ESRU Director, at cameron.johnstone@strath.ac.uk.

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