Duration and starting date: fixed-term contract, 36 months starting in October
PhD subject: Accounting for indoor air quality and overheating in the life cycle assessment of buildings
We spend over 80% of our time indoors, and many pollutants that affect our health are emitted into indoor air. Similarly, climate change is expected to increase the frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves, potentially having significant consequences for the health of building occupants. Building eco-design tools based on life cycle assessment (LCA) have existed for many years and serve as decision-making aids in the early design phases to reduce environmental. However, these tools currently do not account for health impacts related to indoor air quality and overheating.
The thesis aims to propose methods for integrating indoor air quality and overheating into the life cycle assessment of buildings. The goal is to calculate disability-adjusted life years lost (DALYs) — a metric used in LCA — for reference usage scenarios of the building, specifically concerning air quality and overheating. The interaction between air quality and overheating (e.g., air chemistry) could also be addressed.
Who we are looking for
Ideally, you
- Have building energetics expertise, demonstrated through a relevant master's degree or working experience
- Have Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) knowledge
- Are proficient in computer programming, particularly in python
- Are a collaborative team player with a strong ability to work across disciplines.
- Demonstrate advanced quantitative data analysis and modelling skills.
- Possess excellent communication and presentation skills
- Are proficient in spoken and written English
Working environment
The Center for Energy Efficiency of Systems (CES) is a research centre at MINES Paris, recognized as one of the key players in French research on energy efficiency and future energy systems. It currently has around 70 members and several dozen students (Master’s and post-masters students) spread across Paris and Satory.
At this research centre, our team in ecodesign and thermal simulation of buildings pioneered the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to buildings in the 1980s and developed ecodesign tools at both the building and district scales. We contribute to the development of a building LCA tool distributed to professionals.
We are coordinating the Lab Recherche Environnement (https://www.lab-recherche-environnement.org/en/), a research programme resulting from the partnership between VINCI and three ParisTech engineering schools (ENPC and AgroParisTech) supporting interdisciplinary research on the environmental performance of buildings, neighbourhoods and infrastructures. The PhD is part of the Lab Recherche Environment program and thus involves interactions with the other schools.
Application
Please send a CV and a cover letter to charlotte.roux@minesparis.psl.eu