25% off

Applykite25

Publisher
source

Hua Ge

1 week ago

Transforming Built and Urban Microclimates: Advancing Resilience Science for Vulnerable Populations in a Decarbonized and Electrified Canada Concordia University in Canada

I am recruiting a fully funded PhD student to advance urban microclimate resilience and building science at Concordia University.

Concordia University

Canada

email-of-the@publisher.com

Invalid date

Keywords

Environmental Science
Mechanical Engineering
Materials Science
Urban Planning
Public Policy
Fluid Mechanics
Civil Engineering
Architecture
Energy Efficiency
Building Physics
Resilience Studies
Thermal Comfort
Green Infrastructure
Climate Resilience
Urban Climate
Hygrothermal Engineering
Residential Building

Description

This fully funded PhD position at Concordia University in Montreal focuses on transforming built and urban microclimates to advance resilience science for vulnerable populations in a decarbonized and electrified Canada. The project addresses the growing risks of urban heat and climate change, particularly for seniors and Indigenous communities, by leveraging sensors, artificial intelligence, and climate modeling to predict health impacts and inform city planning. The research aims to develop energy-efficient building upgrades and green infrastructure in areas most affected by extreme heat, supporting real-world projects such as Net-Zero neighborhoods and contributing to equitable, science-based climate policies. The successful candidate will join the Department of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering within the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, working under the supervision of Professor Hua Ge. The role involves conducting field measurements and tests in both indoor and outdoor environments, designing and validating deep-retrofit measures for building envelopes and ventilation, and planning and executing indoor air quality (IAQ) and envelope diagnostics. The candidate will prototype and evaluate overheating mitigation strategies, such as radiative cooling, thermal storage/phase change materials, shading, and air handling unit upgrades, using advanced facilities like the NRC test house and Concordia’s Future Building Lab (FBL) and Smart Sustainable Engineering Centre (SSEC). Key responsibilities include building and calibrating hygrothermal and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to assess moisture and heat transport, evaluating the durability of envelope systems under extreme weather, and modeling the effects of green roofs, walls, and trees on thermal comfort and natural ventilation. The research will support validation and risk mapping for cities such as Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto, and translate monitoring data into resilience design guidance for high-risk contexts, including First Nations housing and urban overheating zones. The candidate will also co-develop practical guidance and tools for home envelope and IAQ measures for older adults, support workshops and demonstrations, and simplify technical results for non-technical audiences. The position offers opportunities to contribute evidence to national code and standards development (NBCC, CSA, ASHRAE), draft test and assessment procedures, and co-author technical notes and briefs. The candidate will publish in peer-reviewed venues, present to stakeholders, and collaborate across interdisciplinary teams. The research environment is dynamic and supportive, bridging building engineering, urban microclimates, materials science, and policy, with strong encouragement for publications and presentations. Applicants must have a Master’s degree in a relevant engineering field, experience with simulation and modeling tools, hands-on experimental skills, familiarity with overheating mitigation and envelope durability, strong data analysis and technical writing abilities, and readiness for collaboration and respectful engagement with community stakeholders. The position provides a competitive stipend of 35,000 CAD per year for four years, plus additional support for research travel, conferences, and industry and community collaborations. Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Funding

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

How to apply

Send a single PDF containing a letter of intent, academic CV, transcripts, names and contact information of 3 referees, publications (if any), and any other relevant documents to volt-age.recruitment@concordia.ca. Use the subject line 'IAQ_Your name'. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Requirements

Applicants must have a Master’s degree in Building, Architectural, Mechanical, or Civil Engineering (or a related field) with a focus on building envelopes, hygrothermal performance, and building physics. Required experience includes simulation and modeling (hygrothermal tools such as WUFI/COMSOL, CFD tools such as Fluent/OpenFOAM, and/or building/urban energy and microclimate tools like EnergyPlus/TRNSYS; GIS/urban models are a plus), hands-on experimental skills (IAQ/envelope testing, sensor deployment, data acquisition, lab/field validation), and familiarity with overheating mitigation, ventilation/filtration, and envelope durability under extreme events. Strong data analysis skills (Python/MATLAB/R), statistical calibration, and uncertainty assessment are needed, as well as the ability to synthesize findings into design guidance. Interest or aptitude for standards and policy (NBCC/CSA/ASHRAE) and excellent technical writing and communication skills for both expert and non-technical audiences are required. Candidates must be ready for collaboration and fieldwork, including respectful engagement with First Nations and community stakeholders, and be willing to travel for site assessments and demonstrations.

Ask ApplyKite AI

Start chatting
Can you summarize this position?
What qualifications are required for this position?
How should I prepare my application?

Professors