PhD Studentship (EPSRC DTP) in Assessing the Kitchen Ventilation Strategies in the Context of Net Zero Homes. Nexus between User Behaviour and Indoor Air Quality

Supervisors: Dr Satish BK and Dr Simon Lannon

Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Deadline: 19^th July 2024

To start: October 2024

About the Project

This 3.5-year PhD studentship starting October 2024 will examine the ventilation provision (or lack of) in kitchens by studying relevant ventilation strategies. Our research has shown that CO2 levels in UK houses where British Asian families cook can reach three times the level of White British homes because of cooking practices, as they take five times as long to create meals. The poor CO2 levels in the kitchen are due to the poor ventilation rate and prolonged cooking hours leading to ventilation decay and poor indoor air quality. There is limited understanding of residents’ behaviour and resultant air quality in kitchens.

The student will work in real homes to understand the complex nature of ventilation and its impact on air quality. The work will include airflow simulation techniques such as computational fluid dynamics, ventilation network models, environmental measurement, and occupant surveys. The outcome of this project would help architects and building engineers to better inform the assumptions of ventilation requirements in energy models and result in more realistic predictions of new-build and designing inclusive housing for cultural differences while reducing energy consumption. This research at the forefront of analysing the impact of user behaviour on indoor air quality, influencing policies like ‘Welsh Housing Quality Standard’ (WHQS) and contributing to the area of climate change adaptation and net–zero lifestyles. This project builds on ongoing EPSRC IAA research and provides a unique opportunity to work on interdisciplinary research and be trained in qualitative and quantitative research. The Cardiff University Doctoral Academy provides a range of courses to support PGRs, a wide range of Masters modules and online supports including Vitae and LinkedIn Learning are available.

Test facilities at Nuaire will be available to the student, for which training will be provided by Nuaire.

An undergraduate degree in a related discipline at 2:1 or equivalent is required. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study. For further information about modes of study, please contact us.  

If English is not your first language, you must fulfil our English Language criteria before the start of your studies. Details of accepted English Language qualifications for admissions can be found here https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/international/english-language-requirements/postgraduate

Applications should be received no later than 19/07/24. All applications should be submitted via the online application portal, SIMS:

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/applying

In the funding section of your online application, please specify that you are applying for this project.

For further details, please contact ARCHI-Research@cardiff.ac.uk

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview, which may be carried out remotely via Zoom/Teams.

Funding Notes

The studentship funded by the EPSRC DTP is for 3.5 years (full-time) and covers tuition fees, an annual tax-free living stipend of in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £18,622) and includes access to a Research Training Support Grant (currently £4000).

If you have a disability you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.
As a condition of our funding, the EPSRC DTP can award up to 30% of studentships to international applicants, per recruitment year. Unfortunately, at present we cannot offer EPSRC DTP studentships to international applicants as we have met this quota. 

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