19337BR
Welsh School of Architecture
Research
Advert
Research Associate – Modelling and Performance Evaluation
The Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) is seeking to appoint a highly motivated Research Associate specialising in modelling and performance evaluation to support a multi-disciplinary, broad stakeholder team to enable effective design, research, analysis, learning and delivery in the research area of bio-based materials and low carbon technologies in the retrofit and remodelling of existing housing. You will be joining a ground breaking £4.6 million Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) research project co-led by the University of Bath and Cardiff University to ‘Transform Housing and Homes for Future Generations.’
The postholder will primarily be based on-campus working in a highly collaborative environment with regular travel to Swansea, Bath, Bristol and other parts of the UK as part of the research and design development. Limited hybrid working might be considered.
For informal enquiries about the post please contact Professor Jo Patterson (Director of Research and co-Director of the Research Project) Patterson@Cardiff.ac.uk or Dr Steve Coombs (Director of Undergraduate Teaching and Design Research Work Package lead) CoombsS@cardiff.ac.uk.
This post is full-time. The anticipated start date is as soon as possible. This post is fixed-term for 8 months and your contract will end no later than 30 September 2025.
Salary: £40,247- £45,163 per annum (Grade 6).
Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale.
Closing date: Thursday, 28 November 2024
This post has previously been advertised to employees of Cardiff University only. We now invite external applications.
Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University
Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Job Description
To conduct research within the area of modelling and performance evaluation of bio-based materials and low carbon solutions in housing and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University, carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
Research
- Conduct research within the area of the use of bio-based materials and low carbon solutions in the remodelling of existing housing through modelling and monitoring of implemented solutions contributing to the overall research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences, and the recruitment and supervision of postgraduate research students.
- Prepare, collect, analyse, interpret and present monitoring and modelling data obtained from existing and future demonstration buildings/communities where low carbon systems and biobased materials will or have been installed.
- Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals.
- Attend and or present at conferences/seminars at a local and national level as required.
- Undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting,
- Support the preparation of research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate.
- Review and synthesise existing research literature within the field.
- Participate in School research activities.
- Build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects.
- Engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to support and enable delivering of the Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generation AHRC projects as well as the WSA’s profile. This will help to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.
- Undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to, and which will enhance performance.
- Participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world
- Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications and Education
- Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) in a related subject area or relevant industrial experience.
Knowledge, Skills And Experience
- An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within the research fields of building energy modelling and performance evaluation including: quantitative and qualitative analysis of simulations and real data from buildings, systems and people including interpretation and presentation of data together with comparing outcomes with appropriate benchmarks.
- Knowledge of current status of research and tools such as DesignBuilder or similar in the field of building energy modelling and performance evaluation low carbon passive and active solutions associated with energy demand reduction, renewable energy supply and/or energy storage.
- Proven ability to publish in national/international journals / national/international conferences and/or other research outputs.
- Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies.
Communication and Team Working
- Proven ability in effective and persuasive oral communication skills with a range of different types of organisation and levels of ability, including individuals involved in research projects/members of the public.
- Ability to collaborate and supervise work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals as well as communicating and collaborating with others to ensure efficient and high-quality outcomes.
- Excellent written skills.
Other
- Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and collaborative team-working within interdisciplinary groups.
- Proven ability to work without close supervision
Desirable Criteria
- Relevant professional qualification(s).
- Proven skills within the area of preparation of monitoring equipment, remote monitoring data collection and big data analysis.
- Evidence of collaborations with industry, government, NGOs and/or the public/community organisations.
- Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community.
- Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the School.
- Evidence of ability to plan and manage building monitoring programmes, and all associated stakeholder communication.
Additional Information
Information About Project
A research project led jointly by the University of Bath and Cardiff University has received a grant of £4.6 million from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to ‘Transform Housing and Homes for Future Generations’, working with communities in Bristol and Swansea to co-design energy efficient and low carbon housing fit for the future. The multi-disciplinary team of researchers from across the GW4 Alliance of Bath, Cardiff, Bristol, and Exeter universities will work with industry, community groups and local authorities to transform existing housing into ‘Beyond Net Zero’ liveable homes as one of four Green Transition Ecosystem (GTE) awards that will be funded for 2 years. Green Transition Ecosystems (GTEs) are large-scale projects that focus on translating the best design-led research into real-world benefits.
The ‘Transforming Homes’ research team will co-design, test, implement and monitor innovative prototype bio-based lower carbon solutions to improve the energy efficiency and resilience of social housing constructed by councils between 1920-1940, and will evaluate performance compared to traditional solutions. The longer-term goal is to create scalable and transferable designs and solutions that can be applied to a greater number of houses and different house types. The team will also demonstrate the use of bio-based solutions and renewable technologies across a small number of houses in Bristol and Swansea.
This award is part of the Future Observatory: Design the Green Transition programme, the largest publicly funded design research and innovation programme in the UK. Funded by AHRC in partnership with Future Observatory at the Design Museum, this £25m multimodal investment aims to bring design researchers, universities, and businesses together to catalyse the transition to net zero and a green economy. The project will run for 24 months and aims to deliver a green transformation, fostering a legacy of positive behaviour change, supporting local and regional supply chains, and strengthening local delivery capacities. The project team will communicate their research findings through educational and wider community engagement, in partnership with the Future Observatory, and will develop and deliver training to reduce the design skills gap.
The Welsh School of Architecture
The Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) is consistently ranked amongst the top schools of architecture in published UK and Worldwide league tables and has been ranked within the top 50 of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World Rankings for the past 4 consecutive years.
The WSA also had 90% of its research impact judged as outstanding (4*) in the 2014 REF (Research Excellence Framework). This placed us at the top of the table for impact in the assessment panel for Architecture, Built Environment and Planning.
Our research underpins the BSc and MArch degree programmes as well as the specialisms we teach through advanced Masters programmes that cater to graduates across the broad spectrum of built environment professions. We set high standards for our students and expect great things from them, this is why we stand by the quality of our graduates and are proud of what they achieve.
The distinctiveness of this School lies in its tradition of combining creativity with the understanding needed to realise designs through practice, its reputation for high quality research, the calibre of its staff and in its unique location in a friendly, liveable and affordable capital city that is a gateway to the stunning landscape of Wales.
Salary Range Min.
40,247
Salary Range Max.
45,163
Job Category
Academic - Research
Grade
Grade 6
