Open PhD position – Acoustics for better buildings
Application deadline: 30th of August 2024
Expected start date: 1st of October 2024
The InnoRenew CoE is seeking a well-qualified individual to work on a PhD research project at the InnoRenew CoE, Izola, Slovenia. The primary objective is to consider the aspects of acoustics to build better and to build better buildings.
In fact, we spend more and more time indoors, making the design of the built environment increasingly important. To improve the built environment through research, we are turning to new technologies and utilizing the latest technological resources available in state of the art laboratory facilities.
The successful candidate will be employed full-time at InnoRenew CoE and will be required to enroll in a PhD study program Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments at the University of Primorska.
Goals and Tasks
Three relevant acoustic topics have been identified on which the candidate will work. The candidate should work on one or a combination of the topics.
1) Integration of virtual and augmented reality in advanced listening tests
Listening tests in our acoustics lab currently include spatial audio technologies (binaural, HOA Ambisonics) and vibration reproduction. The test subject response is captured through questionnaires, tracking performance on cognitive tasks and recording physiological response. A further step in the research is to consider the multisensory nature of human perception. In particular, this includes providing visual context during listening tests.
The goal of the PhD student is to develop a listening test system by extending the listening test infrastructure with augmented reality. The sensory augmentation of the reproduction environment in the laboratory will be validated by conducting studies on acoustic comfort and well-being in the built environment.
2) Machine learning approaches for the dynamic evaluation of building materials and components
The institute conducts research in the field of automated measurement of the dynamic behavior of building components for buildings, such as CLT structural elements. The combination of big data acquisition with machine learning principles opens up a new possibility for high-accuracy automated quality control and grading of materials, building components as well as entire buildings.
The goal of the PhD student is to develop advanced methods for measuring the dynamic response (vibrations) of structures and to apply machine learning principles to data processing. The developed solutions will be scaled and further developed up to the industrial application level.
3) Sustainability of the materials used in acoustics
The building industry is facing several environmental challenges, and the materials used for acoustic purposes are not exempt. As part of future acoustic design, acousticians must take responsibility for the choice of materials. Unfortunately, the evaluation of acoustic performance in relation to environmental impact indicators is currently not a tool for decision making.
The goal of the PhD is to develop and propose a methodology that links the environmental impact of materials to the acoustic performance of materials. Acoustic testing and environmental assessment (e.g. LCA) will be used to identify and develop high performing materials.
The candidate’s main tasks will be to:
- prepare and execute a research plan,
- review existing approaches related to the research topic,
- organize and perform laboratory experiments,
- suggest, develop and evaluate innovative building solutions.
The successful candidate will be involved in the preparation of scientific publications and presentations at renowned conferences to extend the impact their research. Additionally, the candidate will prepare at least one research project proposal to further extend the scope of the studied topic.
Essential requirements/skills
- Master’s Degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Civil Engineering, Computer science, Physics, Acoustics or any related area
- High motivation for studies and working within interdisciplinary research projects
- Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English
- Ability to formulate and communicate new research ideas (research proposal preparation, scientific publications, prototype scientific instrumentations, software tools)
- High interests in acoustics and digital signal processing
- Experience with acoustic measurements and the joy of mastering measurement equipment and procedures
- Basic programming skills (python, Matlab, R or similar) with the motivation to grow the skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary international research environment
- Fulfill the requirements for doctoral students at the University of Primorska.
For more details, see:
https://www.famnit.upr.si/en/education/doctoral/renew-mat
https://www.famnit.upr.si/en/education/enrolment
What we offer:
- 3 years contract with a trial period of 3 months
- Monthly salary
- No Ph.D. tuition fee
- Opportunity to participate in ongoing prestigious European projects at the institute
Employment opportunities, admissions policies, activities, services, and the facilities of the InnoRenew CoE do not exclude any person based on race, color, age, sex, gender, religion, national origin, or disability. In processing your application, the GDPR will be respected and your information will not be shared outside of the relevant staff at the InnoRenew CoE. By submitting your application, you agree that the data you provide be reviewed by these organizations.
How to apply
The applicants should send:
- Curriculum vitae (including short descriptions of all prior educations, qualifications, and research or work experiences)
- Motivation letter for this doctoral position (maximum one A4 page)
- Transcripts from previous degrees
- List of publications (if applicable)
to this email address: coe@innorenew.eu in the title (subject) of your email please write: Acoustics for better buildings. All materials should be in English and submitted in PDF format no later than 30th of August 2024.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For further information about the research topic, please contact Assist. Prof. Rok Prislan, PhD (email address: rok.prislan@innorenew.eu).
The InnoRenew CoE reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, extend the application period, and consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.
Open PhD position on Human Health in Wood-based Built Environments
Application deadline: 5th of September 2024
Expected start date: 1st of October 2024
The InnoRenew CoE is seeking a dynamic and motivated PhD candidate to work on the methods to quantify human benefits of using wood in built environments. The researcher will be employed as a research assistant and is expected to enroll in the Ph.D. study program: Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments at the University of Primorska.
Goals and Tasks
This PhD research will aim to develop objective methods to quantify human benefits in wood-based built environments and identify design principles to promote health and cultural acceptance of wood-based built environments.
The candidate will be responsible for:
- Conducting a literature review to understand existing methodologies and challenges;
- Developing and conducting an international survey of cultural acceptance and perception of wood across Europe including building visual stimuli;
- Developing in-depth questionnaires to better understand users’ needs and perceptions of their built environment;
- Designing and conducting laboratory and in-situ comparative experiments to quantify the psychological, physical, and cognitive responses of participants when exposed to different design solutions;
- Characterizing indoor spaces (e.g., Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), acoustics, etc.) and the responses of participants (e.g., cardiopulmonary indicators, cognitive function, stress responses, emotional responses, eye-tracking, functional NIR spectroscopy, etc.);
- Analyzing data on occupant health, well-being, and performance, including physical, mental, and emotional health metrics as well as cognitive function;
- Collaborating on developing computational models to simulate indoor environments and predict the health impacts of different wood materials and building designs;
- Disseminating research findings through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences.
Essential requirements/skills
- Master’s degree in one of these areas: timber engineering, civil engineering, psychology, medical sciences, environmental sciences, architecture, or closely related fields.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English,
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary international research environment,
- Ability to formulate and communicate new research ideas (e.g., research proposal preparation).
- Fulfill the requirements for doctoral students at the University of Primorska. For more details, see:
https://www.famnit.upr.si/en/education/doctoral/renew-mat
https://www.famnit.upr.si/en/education/enrolment
What we offer:
- 3 years contract with a trial period of 3 months;
- Monthly salary,
- No Ph.D. tuition fee,
- Opportunity to participate in ongoing prestigious European projects at the institute.
Employment opportunities, admissions policies, activities, services, and the facilities of the InnoRenew CoE do not exclude any person based on race, color, age, sex, gender, religion, national origin, or disability. In processing your application, the GDPR will be respected and your information will not be shared outside of the relevant staff at the InnoRenew CoE. By submitting your application, you agree that the data you provide be reviewed by these organizations.
How to apply
The applicants should send:
- Curriculum vitae (including short descriptions of all prior educations, qualifications, and research or work experiences)
- Motivation letter for this doctoral position (maximum one A4 page)
- Transcripts from previous degrees
- List of publications (if applicable)
to this email address: coe@innorenew.eu In the title (subject) of your email please write: Human Health in Wood-based Built Environments. All materials should be in English and submitted in PDF format no later than 5th of September 2024.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For further information about the research topic, please contact Prof. Andreja Kutnar, PhD (email address: andreja.kutnar@innorenew.eu) and Assoc. Prof. Michael D. Burnard, PhD (email address: mike.burnard@innorenew.eu).
The InnoRenew CoE reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, extend the application period, and consider canidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.
Lab technician position available
The InnoRenew CoE is seeking a well-qualified and highly motivated individual to work in the Engineered Living Materials (ELM) laboratory.
In the ELM laboratory, we work at the interface of microbiology, materials science and chemistry. In the future, the plan is to expand toward the use of mammalian cell cultures. Currently, most of us work on ARCHI-SKIN, an ERC CoG project of Assoc. Prof. Anna Sandak. The project aims to comprehensively evaluate bio-inspired strategies for fungal biofilms’ chemistry-structure properties to create a solid basis for the advancement of future living engineering materials’ surfaces.
We are searching for a motivated, self-initiative and independent candidate who can help us make our lab even better and more productive.
Key Responsibilities:
- Daily maintenance of laboratory equipment and devices.
- Preparation of microbiological media, buffers and other materials.
- Coordination of purchasing, storing and inventory of laboratory materials and chemicals.
- Participation in the execution of laboratory practice and research projects for students.
- Execution of experimental procedures (given the protocol) – knowing how to work sterile is of great importance.
- Regular interactions and communications with laboratory head dr Karen Butina Ogorelec.
Necessary qualifications:
- Organizational skills, as in the ability to maintain cleanliness and order in the lab.
- Proficiency in English, both written and verbal.
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Background in natural sciences (microbiology, biology, biochemistry, biotechnology etc.). For candidates that have done their education in Slovenia, Vth level is necessary.
- Good communication skills, and the ability to work in a team.
- Participation in the execution of laboratory practice and research projects for students.
Desired qualifications:
- Prior work experience in a similar environment.
- Experience with Good Laboratory Practice.
- Understanding of REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) and CLP (Classification, Labelling, and Packaging) regulations.
- Experience with mammalian cell lines.
- Experience with molecular biology (DNA extraction, PCR etc).
- Proficiency in Slovenian is an extra asset.
What we offer
This position will be within the newly established InnoRenew CoE, which is focused on renewable materials use in sustainable built environments. The InnoRenew CoE was established as a flagship project funded by the European Commission and the Republic of Slovenia.
- 2-year contract with an option for renewal. The first three months of the employment will be considered a probationary period. During this time, the performance and suitability for the role will be assessed to determine if the employment relationship should continue.
- Competitive salary with possible performance-based raises
- Opportunity to work on a prestigious ERC project
Employment opportunities, admissions policies, activities, services, and the facilities of the InnoRenew CoE do not exclude any person based on race, color, age, sex, gender, religion, national origin, or disability. In processing your application, the GDPR will be respected and your information will not be shared outside of the relevant staff at the InnoRenew CoE. By submitting your application, you agree that the data you provide be reviewed by InnoRenew CoE.
How to apply
Interested applicants should send:
- Curriculum vitae
- 1-page motivation letter
- Certificate of the education degree
All materials should be in English and submitted in PDF format no later than 15 September 2024. Please add “ELM lab technician” to the subject of the application.
For any additional information, you can contact us by email: coe@innorenew.eu.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For further information about the research topic, please contact Associate Professor Anna Sandak (anna.sandak@innorenew.eu).
The expected start date is October/November 2024.
The InnoRenew CoE reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, extend the application period, and consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.
Learn how to apply at http://innorenew.eu/jobs.
Learn more about the InnoRenew CoE at http://innorenew.eu or by e-mailing: coe@innorenew.eu.
Working with us
Research at the InnoRenew CoE is focused on supporting restorative solutions for the built environment through renewable materials research and sustainable building research that creates positive impacts for the environment, building users, and society. While working with us, you will conduct cutting edge research with researchers from around the globe, collaborate with industry members, interact with the public, and support policy development for a sustainable future.
Working in Slovenia
Slovenia is a beautiful country to live and work in with easy access to the rest of Europe. The InnoRenew CoE is located on Slovenia’s welcoming coast that is dotted with historic cities, wineries, olive groves, and stunning vistas. The food is great, the people are open and welcoming, and the lifestyle is as active or relaxed as you want it to be, with many outdoor activities to take part in or cafés to relax in.