Are you interested in the indoor environment and human-building interaction? Are you interested in international collaboration with highly engaged international experts? Then these PhD scholarships are for you.
At the Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Sustain), you will join a team of international experts in indoor environment research to break new ground in multisensory exposure and human–building interaction.
Two 3-year PhD scholarships are available at DTU Sustain from May 1, 2023, or soon after. The scholarships are part of a European doctoral network funded by Horizon Europe Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions. You will join a dedicated group of internationally recognized researchers in the indoor environment section at DTU Sustain. From here, you will join The MuSIC doctoral network - a network of 10 PhD students hosted by institutions in 9 countries across the EU. The overall topic of the MuSIC network is multisensory solutions for increasing human-building resilience in the face of climate change.
Project background
We are constantly exposed to several domains of the indoor climate (thermal, acoustic, visual, and air quality), and they all interact to shape our perception and influence our behavior and cognitive performance. There is substantial evidence concerning the influence of each domain by itself, but our understanding of their combined effects is limited.
The first PhD project aims to advance the knowledge of how human cognitive performance is affected by multisensory activation and whether it improves or reduces performance. In some cases, the combined responses can exacerbate the negative effect on cognitive performance. In other cases, the positive effect of one domain can alleviate the negative effect of other domains, and there is no effect or negative effect. The project will seek the optimum combination of different domains for maximizing the performance of different cognitive tasks, office work, and learning
The second project will investigate the interplay between billing schemes, price, health-related signals, and occupants' perceptions. Studies have demonstrated that billing schemes (e.g., whether the heating bill is a part of the rent or based on heat meters) strongly affect the indoor environment and associated energy use in residential buildings. Utility companies are investigating the consequences of storing energy in buildings, e.g., by reducing heating set-points in periods with high demand and scarce renewable supply. However, little is known about how residents will respond to this or how information about utility overrides or health-related information will affect residents' acceptability of indoor environmental conditions. The project will investigate how energy price signals, health-related information, and other contextual factors influence occupants' perception, acceptability, and comfort.
Responsibilities and qualifications
As a PhD student, you will:
- Be responsible for conducting your research project within the frame of a larger EU project
- Work in collaboration with researchers at the Department and within the MuSIC network
- Contribute to milestones and deliverables in the MuSIC project
- Publish the project results in international peer-reviewed journals
- Present your work at seminars and international conferences
- Participate in teaching activities, including supervision of BSc and MSc students
Candidates must have an excellent academic background and a strong knowledge of the indoor environment and its effects on humans.
Additional appreciated skills and competences for the second project are:
- good analytical skills as well as good communication skills in English.
- Experience in design, implementation and statistical analysis of scientific studies with human subjects
- Knowledge of humans behaviour/consumer behaviour and price signals
- Knowledge of the interaction between the four domains within the indoor environment (Thermal, visual, acoustic and air quality) and the influence on physiologic, psychological and/or behavioural reactions.
You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.
Applicable for all scholarships
Approval and Enrolment
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education .
Assessment
Associate Professor Pawel Wargocki will assess candidates for the first position according to the qualification requirements above.
Senior researcher Rune Korsholm Andersen will assess candidates for the second position according to the qualification requirements stated above.
We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.
Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union and is currently at least 3747.42 EUR per month Gross. The period of employment is 3 years.
The starting date is May 1, 2023 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.
You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.
Further information
Further information may be obtained from Senior researcher Rune Korsholm Andersen
You can read more about DTU Sustain at https://sustain.dtu.dk/en
If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar "PhD relocation to Denmark and startup "Zoom" seminar " for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.
Application procedure Your complete online application must be submitted no later than
15 March 2023 (Danish time) .
Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:
- A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
- Please indicate which scholarship you are applying for
- Curriculum vitae
- Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
Incomplete applications will not be considered. You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.
DTU Sustain - Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering is one of Europe's largest university departments specializing in environmental and resource engineering. The department conducts research, development & scientific advice and provides educational programs and services to society. We are working to develop new environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, methods, and solutions and to disseminate this knowledge to society and future generations of engineers. The Department has approximately 300 staff from more than 30 nationalities.
Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,400 students and 5,800 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.