3-year Postdoctoral fellowship in Urban building energy modelling (UBEM)

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At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

About the job

We have one vacancy for a Postdoctoral position at the Department of Architecture and Technology (IAT), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The Postdoctoral position is linked to MIT Building Technology Program and is also part of the EU Driving Urban Transition Partnership Project MakingPEDs “Decision-Making digital twins for climate neutral PEDs”.

The use of simulation tools in the urban context and connected to 2D or 3D web-based visualization applications are valuable tools for decision-makers and citizen’s engagement. If we talk about improving the sustainability of the building stock in neighbourhoods and districts, innovative technical, social and economic models need to be considered under a global LCA/Climate change perspective having in mind interactions with mobility, circularity and co-creation processes with public authorities and citizens.

The candidate will be part of the Energy and Environment Group at the Department of Architecture and Technology, NTNU. The Energy and Environment group strives to solve sustainability issues of the built environment and to prepare it for climate neutrality. Based on science and research we advance design solutions that integrate energy and environmental performance with high architectural and spatial quality. By developing and adopting methods for evaluating indoor and outdoor environmental quality, environmental impact, energy and resource use, we are seeking a performative approach to architecture.  We aim at enabling the design of buildings and neighbourhoods with a positive impact on humans and their environment throughout their life cycle. 

The Energy and Environment Group lead centres/projects like the Research centre on zero emission neighbourhoods in smart cities (ZEN), syn.ikia –Sustainable plus energy neighbourhoods, and the Green Deal ARV project on Climate positive circular communities, and use real demonstration projects and our laboratory facilities (like the ZEB laboratory) extensively in our research.

The group currently comprises 10 senior staff members (professors and associate professors), and around 20 research fellows (research assistants, PhD candidates, and post-doctoral researchers).

You will report to the Head of Department when it comes to personal and general professional aspects. You will report to the project manager/supervisor when it comes to scientific and project-related aspects.

Duties of the position

The candidate will contribute to the development of socioeconomic technology pathways for selected Norwegian and US cities, for how they could upgrade their local building stock to reduce energy use and carbon emissions, how much the retrofits would cost (develop new models) and how much public (and/or private) funds are required to trigger the effort. The studies will be used (with other/previous results) to provide guidance to local governments on incentives needed to speed up the transition of the built environment. The candidate will both stay at NTNU in Trondheim Norway and at MIT in Cambridge/Boston USA.

Required selection criteria

A postdoctoral research fellowship is a qualification position in which the main objective is qualification for work in academic positions. You must have completed a doctoral degree in Sustainable Architecture, Building Physics or in Energy, Environmental or Civil Engineering, or a relevant subject. We look for a candidate with:

• Knowledge in urban building energy simulation tools and standards,
• Knowledge in integrated energy design of zero emission/energy buildings,
• Experience in research projects,
• A strong academic background from your previous studies,
• Open to work in the context of a large research project, with international collaborations and interactions with many universities and industrial partners,
• Able to take the initiative and manage, with minimum daily supervision, project meetings and project reporting activities,
• Proven analytical and computational capabilities, in courses and or/thesis deliverables,
• Proven written and oral English communication skills.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Ph.D Candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate.

Preferred selection criteria

• Completed courses in energy use in buildings, integrated energy design, building performance simulation, life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC).
• Proven experience in modelling and simulation of building envelope systems and/or building energy/environmental system in the context of building performance simulation.
• Proven experience in collaborative research projects, preferably of an international nature, is of advantage.
• Proven experience or education in project development and project management.
• Proven experience in teaching and guidance of students in the context of environmental sustainability and building performance simulation.

Personal characteristics

• Strong motivation and dedication to develop your skills as researcher and contribute to large research projects.
• Motivated to solve environmental problems and advance sustainability.
• Ability to meet deadlines as part of large teams of researchers, in the role of both team member and task responsible.
• Will to take initiative and responsibility in collaborating with research activities beyond your own individual research tasks.
• Ability to work with external partners.
• You can inspire and motivate other researchers and students and create engagement.
• Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer 

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 594 500 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

The period of employment is 3 years.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.  

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application 

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English. Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above. 

The application must include:

• A cover letter where the applicant describes the personal motivation to fill the position
• CV, certificates and diplomas
• List of publications
• Research plan or project proposal (max 3 pages incl. references), indicating your view of the main research challenges in the area of the position, the methodological approach and how this is relevant to their own background and the above research objectives.
• Academic works – published or unpublished – that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 3 works)
• Name and email address of three referees

Uncomplete application will not be considered.

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well. 
 
Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation. 

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA. 

General information 

Working at NTNU 

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality. 

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The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.  

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As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted. 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Niki Gaitani, or Professor, Head of Department Arild Gustavsen. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Natalia Swahn. 

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/256365 with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation. 

Application deadline: 10.03.2024

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The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Architecture and Technology

Our goal is to develop coherent and sustainable architecture of high quality. We work with form, theory and history, building materials and building structures, and energy-efficient and sustainable buildings. Our activities also include the preservation and development of traditional building craft skills. The Department of Architecture and Technology is one of four departments in the Faculty of Architecture and Design.