Postdoctoral Researcher - Building Scientist

COH-05 Postdoctoral Researcher – Building Scientist

CONTRACT: Full Time/Specified Purpose

The International Energy Research Centre (IERC) core research team is a multi-disciplinary, collaborative research group, conducting specific pieces of research for industry, national and international organizations. The core research team report to the Head of Group who reports to Tyndall’s Head of Energy Research.

The role of an IERC researcher is to deliver research outputs based on the translation of both industry needs and academic research ambitions such that highly structured and well defined research projects can be defined, developed and delivered.  IERC researchers are expected to collaborate in strategic research planning activities in order to define team research objectives and research output specifications.

IERC researchers are expected to participate in fully collaborative projects, particularly where special expertise can make a direct contribution and advance IERC’s objectives. IERC researchers are expected to have both academic and industry experience, together with a sound understanding of the wider energy landscape beyond their area of expertise. All researchers will be expected to initiate and/or contribute to writing of proposals for national and international external funding streams.

This post is a full-time, specified purpose position linked to funding opportunities of the IERC. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute to research project development conducted by IERC core research teams.
• Contribute or initiate proposal development for new research projects including proposal and grant writing.
• Participate and support work with different research partners.
• To deliver outcomes in a timely fashion within the quality assurance processes and methods defined for project development and delivery.
• Provide positive critical analysis for potential innovation opportunities with a view to solution-oriented outcomes.
• To engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of the research group.
• To interact closely, as necessary, with postgraduate research students who are studying for a Masters or a PhD and possibly have an agreed role in supporting these students in their day to day research in conjunction with an academic supervisor.
• Develop as a thought leader and proactively generate research initiatives and ideas.
• To carry out administrative work to support research programmes as necessary.
• Participate in Education and Public Engagement activities, as required.
• Ensure all activities are compliant with the Tyndall Quality Management system.
• Ensure all activities are compliant with required Health and Safety standards.
• To carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.

Essential Criteria

• A PhD qualification with proven track record of publications in the fields of building energy and physics, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, or similar.
• Typically, with 2 years’ research experience after PhD with measureable outcomes in minimum two of the following building science areas:
• Building thermal simulation including design of HVAC systems
• Interior daylighting models including comfort
• Design of new building components for energy or daylighting improvement
• Demonstrable experience in using leading simulation packages (e.g. EnergyPlus, TRNSYS, Dymola, etc.) with programming of bespoke modules as an advantage.
• Demonstrated capability of self-initiative and unsupervised work while working within a project team to achieve results.
• A commitment to personal growth and development.
• Excellent communication, organisation and interpersonal skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in experimental work developing building physics, daylight models or components.
• Reasonable working knowledge of at least one of the following:
• Building information modelling
• Simplified building energy models
• Experience of working collaboratively with industry.
• Experience with competitive research programs (including Horizon and MSCA).
• Evidence of leading research projects and project teams to successful completion.
• It is strongly desirable that candidates are able to demonstrate an ability to learn or develop bespoke models for programs outside their usual knowledge as may become necessary during the course of research projects.

Appointment may be made on the IUA Scale for Post-Doctoral Researchers €41,207-€47,477pa.  Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Dr. Carlos Ochoa at carlos.ochoa@ierc.ie