E-2461 PHD STUDENT IN BUILDING ENERGY MODELLING AND PROSPECTIVE LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

ASSESSMENT

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies.

Do you want to know more about LIST? Check our website: https: // www. list.lu/

Discover our Environmental Research and Innovation : ERIN Department

Context

The Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) department, made up of 200 life science, environmental science and information technology researchers and engineers, provides the interdisciplinary knowledge, expertise and technologies to lead solutions including the major environmental challenges facing society, such as climate change mitigation, ecosystem resilience, sustainable energy systems, efficient use of renewable resources, and environmental pollution prevention and control.

You will join the Environmental Sustainability Assessment and Circularity (SUSTAIN) Unit of ERIN. SUSTAIN develops knowledge, transferable (software) technologies, practical methods and outreach activities for the simulation and comprehensive sustainability assessment of societal systems. Its final purpose is to foster sustainable eco-innovation, through products and technologies, as well as support sustainability-oriented policy implementation and behavioural change to promote decarbonisation transitions.

Within the SUSTAIN Unit, you will be incorporated in the Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis (LCSA) research group. The group consists of ca. 30 researchers with a broad range of expertise and diverse cultural backgrounds, and united by the common purpose of supporting the sustainability transition. The group develops sustainability metrics and indicators, to assess the environmental and social impacts of products, technologies, territories and policies, for both industrial organisations and policy makers.

Description

With increasing urbanisation, cities and buildings will need to drastically improve their environmental performance. Policy-makers, building stakeholders, citizens, etc., need to advance mitigation and adaptation interventions and adopt tailored de-carbonisation strategies consistent with political, climatic, and socio-demographic contexts. Long-term solutions for more climate-neutral cities are emerging, however many knowledge gaps on urban climate actions are still to be addressed. For example, there is still little understanding of the effect of mitigation actions at the urban level (e.g., green infrastructure, water features, etc.) and the impact of actions by homeowners (e.g., green roofs, insulation, cooling systems, etc.) on the urban climate at street or district level.

You will carry out this PhD in the framework of the project CHIASMUS ("Climate-based Hybrid and locally Informed Adaptive Strategies from Modelling of Urban building Stock"), where he/she will conduct a prospective life cycle assessment (pLCA) study to quantify the impacts linked with building performances under current and future climate conditions (up to the horizon 2050). Urban nature-based solutions will be considered among the possible strategies for climate adaptation. The calculation of the net environmental benefits of the implementation of these solutions will be supported by the NBenefit$ tool developed by LIST, which underpins a system dynamics model (SDM) that combines ecosystem (dis)services with LCA.

It is foreseen to conduct the pLCA study using the Brightway software package for LCA.

You will be enrolled at the University of Luxembourg.

You will receive inputs concerning physics-based and data-driven building energy modelling, respectively from the University of Antwerpen and the University of Louvain, both partners of the project. The future climate scenarios will be generated by a third partner.

The prospective scenarios will be complemented by regional and time variability assessment to perform sensitivity analysis. In addition, the uncertainty of the prospective LCA results will be quantified.

You will also travel for short periods to the two Universities partners of the project.

now!

Education Background: Master's degree in environmental engineering, environmental economics or environmental science or equivalent.

MUST HAVE

Organizational skills and interdisciplinary thinking

A problem-solving mind-set

A strong team-working capability

Able to work in autonomy and creatively

Proven proficiency in Python programming

Previous experience on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

NICE TO HAVE

Knowledge of the Brightway open-source software package for LCA

Previous experience with System Dynamics

Previous experience in writing scientific reports and articles

Language skills

Flawless knowledge of English (both spoken and written) is required.

Knowledge of German and/or French and/or Luxembourgish is considered as an asset.

Apply online

Your application must include:

· A motivation letter oriented towards the position and detailing your experience

· A scientific CV with contact details

· List of publications (and patents, if applicable)

· Contact details of 2 references

Application procedure and conditions

· LIST is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring and retaining diverse personnel. We value all applicants and will consider all competent candidates for employment without regard to national origin, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, religion, age or disability

· Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled

· An assessment committee will review the applications and select candidates based on guidelines that aim to ensure equal opportunities

· The main criteria for selection will be the correspondence of the existing skills and expertise of the applicant with the requirements mentioned above

Note that by accepting to take the interview you consent to share your application with Prof. Amaryllis Audenaert, from the University of Antwerpen, and Prof. Sergio Altomonte, from the University of Louvain.

Additional conditions:

· Work location: Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Belval, Luxembourg

· PhD enrolment: University of Luxembourg, Belval, Luxembourg

Please note the universities costs are at the charge of the student.

Your master diploma has to be recognized in Luxembourg. Please refer to:

https: // www. uni.lu/en/admissions/diploma-recognition/

https: // guichet.public.lu/fr/citoyens/enseignement-formation/etudes- superieures/reconnaissance-diplomes.html

To be considered for this position it is crucial that you have knowledge of the following languages

Write C1 Advanced

Speak C1 Advanced

The following languages are optional but are considered a plus.

Write B2 Upper intermediate

Speak B2 Upper intermediate

Write B2 Upper intermediate

Speak B2 Upper intermediate

Write B2 Upper intermediate

Speak B2 Upper intermediate

minimum required Education

Required work experience in years

0 or more years

Job Category

Details

Employment type

Contract type

Hours per week

40

Contract period

Months

Contract duration

36

Location

Country

City

Esch-Sur-Alzette

Recruiter in charge

Alexandre BAUDET

Employment type

Full-Time

UO

ERIN

Profile type

Phd Student