PhD on Serious games, gamification and feedback interfaces for healthy and sustainable buildings

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.

Sustainability, in its broadest definition, is the cornerstone of research and education in the Department of Built Environment. We take the lead in (re)shaping the built environment to be future-proof, safe, healthy, inclusive and respectful of planetary boundaries. We house the entire spectrum of technology, engineering, design, and human behavior disciplines in the built environment, with world-class experimental facilities at all scales. This allows us to address societal challenges from a uniquely integrated perspective.

Introduction

Are you eager to contribute to shaping the future of user-centric smart buildings? Do you want to help with the challenges of climate change and the energy transition in the built environment? Are you interested in AI and smart technologies? Do you want to do applied research that really impacts building industry?

Then join us at Eindhoven University of Technology!

Job Description

The building industry is facing different challenges in current years. On the one hand, the consequences of climate change for cities are already visible in unexpected yearly temperature variations. On the other hand, the energy transition has taken great importance in the last years. In a less predictable world, while transitioning to a gas-free built environment, the role of the occupants in buildings might take an important role. Buildings users will have to take more responsibility not only on reducing their energy consumption, but also on employing energy when cleaner sources are available or when is beneficial for the electricity networks, especially considering extra challenges brought by climate change. In this scenario, occupants will have to adapt their behaviour for unexpected weather conditions, and to support more flexible energy systems in buildings.

In this position you will research, from a multi-disciplinary perspective, the effect of diverse data-driven/AI-based solutions (serious games, gamification, nudging, feedback interfaces) to support behaviour adaptations of building occupants in residential and non-residential buildings. Within living-labs and together with diverse stakeholders and final users, you co-create and protype solutions to later test and evaluate them in relevant real-life settings.

You will be working in the group of Smart Architectural Technologies at the Department of the Built Environment at TU/e. Through different projects, you will collaborate with other organisations and industry partners, as well as with fellow doctoral and postdoctoral researchers working in making smarter, healthier and more inclusive building environments.

Job Requirements

• A master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. human-technology interaction, architecture, industrial design engineering, psychology and technology, computer science).
• Experience working on topics related to smart buildings, occupants’ behavior, behavioural change, participatory design process (co-creating, prototyping).
• Interest in developing new, complementary skills to the research topic.
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interested in collaborating with industrial partners.

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. Olivia Guerra-Santin, Assistant Professor ([email protected]).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact Jennifer Berkhout, HR-Advisor ([email protected]).

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.