Two Post Doctoral Positions Available In NUIG

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for two full-time fixed term positions as Postdoctoral Researchers on the projects “HEAT CHECK-Heating and Temperature Characteristics in Irish Buildings” and H2020 METABUILDING Labs within  theSustainable and Resilient Structures Research Group in the SFI MaREI Centre based in the School of Engineering and  Ryan Institute at the National University of Ireland, Galway. This project is in collaboration with the Internet of Things, Data Streams Processing and Intelligent Systems Research Unit (UIOT) at the Data Science Institute, NUI Galway, which is led by Dr Martin Serrano.

These positions are funded by the SEAI and H2020 are available from June 2021 for a period of one year (subject to extension if additional funding becomes available).

The Project:

Energy performance certificates (EPCs) are seen as a tool for (i) providing clear and reliable information to homeowners and tenants to compare and assess the energy performance of buildings, (ii) encourage owners to invest in improving the energy efficiency of the building through the provision of cost effect retrofit measures and (iii) assist governments in developing policies to achieve national energy reduction targets in the building sector. However, research has found that the energy demand of buildings according to EPCs and the tools used to determine their energy demand are often inaccurate.

The primary objective of HEAT CHECK is to improve the energy audit procedure for the Domestic Energy Assessment (DEAP) and Non-Domestic Energy Assessment Procedure (NEAP) energy compliance tools. This will be carried out by investigating the relationships between the energy consumption and internal environment quality (IEQ) profiles of buildings, the people occupying the buildings and the materials used in construction/retrofit of buildings in Ireland. Primarily, this will be achieved by monitoring occupant energy demand behaviours and IEQ profiles of over 100 domestic and non-domestic Irish buildings and comparing to the simulated data of the energy compliance tools.

In addition, simulation modelling of the buildings to assess their susceptibility for overheating against historical and future Irish climate profiles will be carried out. Furthermore, feedback of monitored data will be provided to building occupants to encourage them to invest in an energy efficiency technology or change their energy consumption behaviour.

Job Description:

The successful candidates will lead the development of a methodology and its application for comparing building occupant’s energy consumption behaviours and indoor temperature profiles to energy performance compliance tools.

The candidate for Postdoctoral Researcher position 1 is responsible for recommending changes that should be implemented to advance energy performance compliance tools software tools to achieve more robust energy performance estimates.

The successful candidate for Postdoctoral Researcher position 2 is responsible for the development of field study testing procedure for monitoring the energy demand and indoor air quality of buildings. Specify and implement hardware and software to monitor the energy consumption levels and indoor environment quality (IEQ) of traditional and modern residential and educational/office Irish buildings, incorporating data analytics and machine learning techniques.

The successful candidates will work in the Sustainable and Resilient Structures Research Group under the supervision of Prof Jamie Goggins to advance the energy audit procedure for the Domestic Energy Assessment (DEAP) and Non-Domestic Energy Assessment Procedure (NEAP) energy compliance tools. This project is in collaboration with the Internet of Things, Data Streams Processing and Intelligent Systems Research Unit (UIOT) at the Data Science Institute, NUI Galway, which is led by Dr Martin Serrano.

Duties:

Research

  • Simulation of energy demand and indoor temperature profiles of residential, educational and office buildings in Ireland (Postdoctoral Position 1).
  • Evaluation and advancement of energy audit procedure for the Domestic Energy Assessment (DEAP) and Non-Domestic Energy Assessment Procedure (NEAP) energy compliance tools (Postdoctoral Position 1).
  • Development of field study testing procedure for monitoring the energy demand and indoor air quality of buildings. Specify and implement hardware and software to monitor the energy consumption levels and indoor environment quality (IEQ) of traditional and modern residential and educational/office Irish buildings, incorporating data analytics and machine learning techniques (Postdoctoral Position 2).
  • Review of state-of-the-art energy and indoor air quality monitoring equipment for buildings (Postdoctoral Position 2).
  • Creation and management of database for field study data (Postdoctoral Position 2).
  • Development of methodology and tool for examining the heating behaviours of Irish Residential Building Occupants
  • Assist in the auditing, meter installation, data collection and data management of over 100 buildings.
  • Assist in providing feedback of monitored data to building occupants to encourage them to invest in an energy efficiency technology or change their energy consumption behaviour.
  • Conduct individual and/or collaborative research projects in a variety of settings (laboratory, creative performance, field, clinical setting).
  • Determine appropriate methodologies for research, with advice and support as appropriate.
  • Plan, co-ordinate and implement research project (this may include managing a small research team/co-ordinating other researcher activity).
  • Keep up to date with research related methods and techniques, in particular, developments in the specific research area.
  • Collaborate with colleagues on areas of shared research interest.
  • To have knowledge and understanding of the policy, practices and procedures, relevant to the role, this may include broader University/ sector/ external sponsor or funder (e.g. Commercial Awareness, Research Ethics, Knowledge Transfer, Patents, Intellectual Property Rights, Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities & Diversity).
  • The successful candidate is expected to define research objectives and proposals for own (or joint) research in line with research strategy whilst contributing to the research programme of the Sustainable and Resilient Structures Research group in the MaREI Centre at NUI Galway. This will be under general guidance of the Principal Investigators/ Project Leaders.

Dissemination

  • To be familiar with the publication process.
  • Present on research progress and outcomes e.g. to bodies supervising research; conferences, steering groups; other team members, as agreed with the PI / project leader.
  • Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research with the support of and under the supervision of your Principal Investigator.
    • Write up results from own research activity.
    • Publish on a regular basis.
    • Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations / commercial exploitation.
    • Translate knowledge of advances in the subject area into research activity.
  • Contribute to the research project’s dissemination in whatever form – report, papers, chapters, book
  • Communicate their research with their peers
  • Attend and network at relevant conferences and meeting hosted by relevant professional institutions and other universities as appropriate
  • The successful candidate is expected to lead the writing of at least one international peer review journal publication, as well as contributing to other peer review publications.

Management

  • To complete the administrative work to support the programme of research
  • To contribute to costing research grant proposals and assist in the financial management of a research project.
  • To carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.
  • Manage own personal and research resources (including where required, laboratories, and specialist equipment) appropriately.
  • Manage own research budget, if any, and keep records as directed and in line with Funder/University policy as appropriate.
  • Know the legal requirements regarding data protection and confidentiality data protection requirements.
  • To carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.

Support

  • Engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by your Principal Investigator, your School or Institute, or the University.
  • Contribute to teaching /tutoring/mentoring that shall normally be no more than 50 hours per annum in an associated school and under the close supervision of a fulltime academic member of the School. The extent of this must not adversely impact the primary research role.
  • Develop their own career reputation and career development.
  • Acquire generic and transferable skills (including project management, business skills and postgraduate mentoring/supervision).
  • Mentor and assist, as appropriate and as directed, the research graduate students in your group, School and Institute.
  • May act as co-supervisor or be a member of a supervision panel.
  • May act as mentor to foreign students on undergraduate placement.
  • May participate in limited teaching hours for own development. The extent of this must not adversely impact the primary research role.
  • To interact closely with postgraduate research students who are studying for a Masters or a PhD and possibly have an agreed role in supporting these students in their day to day research in conjunction with an academic supervisor. Support and, where appropriate, co-supervise the work of undergraduate students e.g. Final Year Project Students.
  • The successful candidate is expected to gain experience in grant writing and participate in internal / external networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for future research collaboration.

Other

  • Continue to update knowledge and develop skills.
  • Develop internal and external contacts with researchers in related areas.
  • May contribute to work of the College/School/Research Unit through activities such as student Open Days, other promotion activity as appropriate.

 

Qualifications/Skills required:

Essential Requirements:

  • Honours degree (at least 2.1 or equivalent) in Building Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Data Analytics, Computer Science, Data Science, Physics, Materials Science or equivalent
  • PhD in Building Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Data Analytics, Computer Science, Data Science, Physics, Materials Science or equivalent
  • Demonstrable experience in both independent and collaborative research
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills (English language) excellent; be highly motivated and passionate about energy efficiency; and have strong documentation, oral and interpersonal skills.
  • Evidence of scientific publication and dissemination of results at conferences and/or journals
  • For Postdoctoral Researcher position 1:
    • Evidence of experience in building simulation modelling, database management, data analytics and/or data science
  • For Postdoctoral Researcher position 2:
    • Demonstrable experience on Big Data and Analytics systems with postdoctoral expertise in applying and developing electronic and communications, knowledge engineering and semantic web methodologies.

Desirable Requirements:

  • Experience in building science, thermodynamics and moisture transfer
  • Evidence of innovative thinking, able to work both independently and in cross-disciplinary teams
  • Appropriate supervisory or teaching experience may be an advantage
  • For Postdoctoral Researcher Position 1:
    • Evidence of knowledge of and experience with Domestic Energy Assessment (DEAP) and Non-Domestic Energy Assessment Procedure (NEAP) (or equivalent) energy compliance tools.
  • For Postdoctoral Researcher Position 2:
    • Experience in field studies, especially data collection, installing metering systems and surveying stakeholders
    • An international reputation of interdisciplinary research in the overlap between electronics, communications and computational sciences is desirable as demonstrated by a publication record in high impact journals (preferably as first author)

Salary:  

€38,632 to €50,029 per annum pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts (public sector pay policy rules pertaining to new entrants will apply)

Start date: Position is available from earliest possible start date June 2021

Continuing Professional Development/Training:

Further information on research and working at NUI Galway is available on Research at NUI Galway Researchers at NUI Galway are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans. NUI Galway provides continuing professional development supports for all researchers seeking to build their own career pathways either within or beyond academia.  Researchers are encouraged to engage with our Researcher Development Centre (RDC) upon commencing employment.

For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie

Further information about the Sustainable and Resilient Structures Research Group at NUI Galway is available at the SFI MaREI Centre, the School of Engineering and the Ryan Institute.

Informal enquiries concerning the post may be made to Dr Jamie Goggins (ei.yawlagiun@sniggog.eimaJ)  

To Apply:

Applications to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of three referees should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to Dr Jamie Goggins: ei.yawlagiun@sniggoG.eimaJ  

Please put reference number NUIG-RES-095-21 in subject line of e-mail application.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm Sunday 30th May 2021

Interviews are planned to be held week commencing 7th June 2021, which will be held virtually using MS Teams

We reserve the right to re-advertise or extend the closing date for this post.

National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer

All positions are recruited in line with Open, Transparent, Merit (OTM) and Competency based recruitment