Estimating the environmental and cost implications of low carbon buildings by lifecycle analysis of materials and technologies

Applications are invited for one PhD studentship, effective 1 January 2022, for the EU funded PRELUDE project in the field of environmental buildings assessment. The successful applicant will receive an annual stipend (bursary) of £16,500 to £17,000 depending on their experience plus payment of their full-time tuition fees for a period of three years.

The Project

This exciting project involves lifecycle analysis (LCA) of different materials and new technologies developed in the project to estimate the environmental and cost implications of low carbon buildings. The effect on the environment will be assessed using different tools and software, following the LCA’s stages: (i) definition of scope and goal, (ii) development of relevant inventory inputs and outputs, (iii) assessment of their potential impacts and interpretation of results within the context of proposed targets. The LCA costing and indirect cost as productivity, cost of time, budget allocation and compare long-term expenses with short–term expenses will be analysed.

The possible combinations of variables that will give the best performances in terms of energy savings, emissions reduction and minimum cost of energy source will be considered. You will work as part of a consortium of 21 university and industry partners to collect data from building and circular economy researchers for analysis and use in developing strategies and models using LCA software, prepare reports and draft publications.

Please contact Dr Valentina Stojceska at valentina.stojceska@brunel.ac.uk or Professor Maria Kolokotroni at maria.kolokotroni@brunel.ac.uk to find out more about this opportunity or the PRELUDE project.

Experience, Skills and Training

Experience in sustainable energy and/or knowledge in Life Cycling Assessment’s software such as SimaPro 9 and GABI would be an advantage.

You will work with a multidisciplinary supervisory team that brings together unique expertise in building services engineering and environmental sustainability. Training will be provided and you will develop transferable skills through engaging with different stakeholders and end-user companies.

Eligibility

You will have or expect to achieve a minimum upper second (2:1) honours degree in Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Science/Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering or similar discipline. A Postgraduate Masters degree is not required by may be an advantage.

How to apply

Please submit the documents below as a single PDF file to cedps-pgr-office@brunel.ac.uk AND to valentina.stojceska@brunel.ac.uk and maria.kolokotroni@brunel.ac.uk by 14:00 on Friday 3 December 2021:

Your up-to-date CV;
Your personal statement (300 to 500 words) summarising your background, skills and experience;
Your Undergraduate/Postgraduate Masters degree certificate(s) and transcript(s);
Evidence of your English language skills to IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in all sections) or equivalent, if appropriate;
TWO academic references, one of which can be provided by a member of staff in the College.

Interviews will take place in the second week of December 2021.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Valentina Stojceska - PhD in Food Engineering – School of Biosystems Engineering, University College Dublin Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) –Manchester Metropolitan University BSc in Biotechnology and Food Process Engineering - Faculty of Technology, St. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje

Maria Kolokotroni - Academic Career I studied for an MSc in Environmental Design and Engineering at the Bartlett School, University College London (UCL). I stayed at UCL to carry out a PhD on the 'Thermal Performance of Housing' and further on for a post-doc on a two year project to develop environmental design guidance for research laboratories. I then moved on to the University of Westminster for a three-year post-doc on an EPSRC funded project dealing with Moisture in Residential Buildings. I joined Brunel in 1998. Industrial Career I worked for five years at the Building Research Establishment, Garston in the Indoor Environment Division. My research work focused on the application of natural ventilation strategies in office buildings as well as other energy and indoor air quality related issues in non-domestic buildings.