Postdoctoral Scholar - Building Indoor Air Quality & HVAC Controls

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Prof. Bill Bahnfleth and Assoc. Prof. Greg Pavlak are seeking a self-motivated, highly skilled Postdoctoral Scholar to work on funded research in the area of building indoor air quality (IAQ) and heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system controls. The successful candidate will join the Indoor Environment Collaborative and Sustainable Building Decisions Lab at Penn State Architectural Engineering, and will work closely with the PIs, team members, and industry to develop and evaluate new HVAC system designs and control strategies to mitigate occupant harm from exposure to indoor bioaerosols.

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Developing and analyzing new HVAC control algorithms to balance energy efficiency and IAQ.

• Designing and conducting energy, IAQ, and economic simulations of novel control systems.

• Aggregating, synthesizing, and interpreting HVAC system data from field sites.

• Developing data-driven models for benchmarking key performance indicators (KPIs).

• Staying up to date with the latest advancements, research, and standards in IAQ, building controls, and healthy buildings.

• Presenting results, publishing in peer-reviewed technical journals, and collaborating on new funding proposals.

Required and Preferred Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, architectural engineering, or closely related field is required by the start date.

• Research experience in indoor air quality, building HVAC controls, and/or closely related fields is required, with relevant industry experience also being highly desirable.

• Familiarity with a variety of HVAC system types and current ventilation/IAQ standards is required.

• Proficiency in computer simulation of building energy and/or indoor air quality is strongly preferred. (e.g., EnergyPlus, Modelica, CONTAM, CFD, etc.)

• Prior work or research experience related to building automation systems and sequences of operations is highly desirable.

• Proficiency in scientific programming, data analysis, and/or machine learning (e.g., Python, Scikit-learn, PyTorch, etc.) is also desired.

• A track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals on related topics is also strongly preferred.

Application Requirements

To apply, interested applicants should upload the following as a single PDF to their candidate record:

• A one-page cover letter

• A two-page research statement describing your past research experience and future research/career goals

• A one-page Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness (DEI) statement on your past contributions to promoting DEI and/or future goals in this area

• Your current CV

• Contact information for three professional references

Applications will be reviewed immediately and continue until the position is filled.

This is a term position funded for one year from date of hire, with possibility of refunding.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Bill Bahnfleth (wbahnfleth@psu.edu) and Dr. Greg Pavlak (gpavlak@psu.edu).

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

Penn State offers competitive benefits to Postdoctoral Scholars. Please visit https://postdoc.psu.edu/resources/benefits-healthcare/ for more detailed information.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: