PhD Positions in the Energy Resilience in the Built Environment Centre for Doctoral Training (ERBE CDT)

You will participate in a four-year integrated programme of energy demand research in a whole energy system context. You will be registered in one of MaREI’s institutional partners and will be co-supervised by a UK-based investigator.

There are core modules which have been co-created with partners from across industry, government, and academia, and will cover topics such as energy policy and society, energy data and analysis, building modelling, physics of the built environment, and socio-technical theory and methods.

Key to the cohort experience of this PhD programme is the participation in an annual Block Week in Loughborough University; along with a Summer School, Colloquium and a student-led conference, along with participation in events and training specific to your own research.

The ERBE CDT PhD Programme will provide the knowledge, research and transferable skills to enable outstanding graduates from physics to social sciences to pursue research in one of three themes:

1. Flexibility and resilience: the interaction between buildings, both domestic and non-domestic, and the whole energy system, through new generation, storage, and energy efficiency technology, enabled by smart control systems and new business models.
2. Technology and system performance: demand reduction and decarbonisation of the built environment and its utilisation through design, construction methods, technological innovation, cyber-physical monitoring and control systems and regulation.
3. Comfort, health and well-being: building, energy, and ICT systems that create productive and efficient work and operational environments and affordable, clean, safe homes.

Key to the success of the ERBE CDT student cohort is the mix of academic and professional backgrounds of its students. Students from all backgrounds with an interest in the themes are encouraged to apply including: Social Science, Architecture, Data Analytics, Physics, Materials Science; Computer Science; Mathematics and Engineering.

Applications are welcomed from both EU & Non-EU students. For non-EU students, please be advised that there are English language requirements in place for each institution which must be adhered to.

There are 4 steps to the PhD Student Application.

1. Complete an Online Application Form
2. Complete a Ranking of Order of Preference of potential projects. Please rank your top 5 projects 1 – 5. In this ranking process, 1 is your most preferred project, and 5 is your least preferred. You can view the project proposals below. 
3. Submit your CV – please ensure that your CV includes:
   1. Bachelor Degree Title & Specialisation
   2. Bachelor Thesis Title
   3. Masters Degree Title & Specialisation (if applicable)
   4. Masters Thesis Title (if applicable)
   5. Details of publications (if applicable)
   6. Research Experience (if applicable)
4. Submit a Statement of Motivation (max 500 words) outlining your motivation for pursuing a PhD in the ERBE CDT & detailing the reasons for your preferred project choice, institution & supervisor.

If any of the above steps are not complied with, your application will not be considered.

The closing date for receipt of the completed Application Form, CV & Motivation Statement is 5.00 p.m. Friday 19^th February, 2021 (GMT). Interviews will be held in the following weeks with the studentship commencing in September 2021. 

For any informal queries, please email ERBE@ucc.ie

In the online Application Form, you are asked to complete a Ranking of Order of Preference of potential projects. Please rank your top 5 projects 1 – 5. In this ranking process, 1 is your most preferred project, and 5 is your least preferred.