PhD on Use-Case-Driven and Scalable Building Energy Modelling for Positive Energy Districts

Introduction

Are you interested in developing building energy models that support real-world decisions on urban renovation and district energy planning? Contribute to scalable simulation methods for Positive Energy Districts.

Job Description

Are you motivated to contribute to the energy transition by improving how we simulate building performance at scale? We are looking for a PhD researcher to develop scalable, fit-for-purpose building energy models that support decision-making in the context of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs).

In this PhD, you will work closely with municipalities and other stakeholders to understand the specific use cases they face—such as building renovation planning and district energy system design. These use cases define the types of questions that the building energy models need to answer—for example, how different renovation scenarios affect energy demand or how building stock characteristics impact thermal network design. Based on these needs, you will determine the appropriate level of complexity in the Building Energy Simulation (BES) models, including modeling approach (e.g., reduced-order or first-principles), spatial and temporal resolution, and occupant behavior detail. Your goal is to develop models that are fit-for-purpose, while also being scalable to neighborhoods of 1000–2000 buildings.

This PhD is part of the EmPowerED research project, which brings together researchers, municipalities, grid operators, housing associations, and citizens to support the design of sustainable, affordable, and widely supported local energy systems. EmPowerED aims to accelerate the energy transition by placing citizens at the heart of PED development through new socio-technical models and tools. You will collaborate closely with a second EmPowerED PhD researcher who focuses on data-driven building typology identification and automated BES generation.

You will be embedded in the Building Performance research group and the Information Systems in the Built Environment research group, working in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. Your contributions will support municipalities and practitioners in making informed decisions about building performance, energy use, and renovation planning.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds who are enthusiastic about building physics, energy systems modelling, and the societal impact of simulation tools.

Job Requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in building engineering, building physics, building energy systems modeling, or environmental engineering, with experience in simulation tools (e.g., Modelica, EnergyPlus). Familiarity with uncertainty analysis, occupant behavior modeling, or urban energy systems is a strong advantage.
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interested in collaborating with industrial partners.
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Conditions of Employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you: 

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment. 
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 2,901 max. € 3,707).  
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%. 
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process. 
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.  
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs. 
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager dr.ir. P. Hoes (p.hoes@tue.nl).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HR Services (HRservices.be@tue.nl).

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.