PhD position within the spectral composition of daylight inside buildings
Deadline: 01.05.2023
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
NMBU's focus is a joint effort for a sustainable future. Our university will contribute to securing the future of life, through outstanding research, education, communication and innovation.
NMBU has 1,900 employees of which about 500 phd scholarships and 6,700 students. The university is divided into seven faculties.
NMBU believes that a good working environment is characterised by diversity.
We encourage qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender, functional ability, cultural background or whether you have been outside the labour market for a period. If necessary, workplace adaptations will be made for persons with disabilities. More information about NMBU is available at
The Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) develops research-based knowledge and educates civil engineers and lecturers needed to reach the UN's sustainability goals. We have approximately 150 employees, 70 PhD students and soon 1500 students. The education and research at REALTEK cover a broad spectrum of disciplines.
This includes data science, mechanics and process engineering, robotics, construction and architecture, industrial economics, environmental physics and renewable energy, geomatics, water and environmental engineering, applied mathematics as well as secondary school teacher education in natural sciences and use of natural resources such as in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. The workplace is in Ås, 30 km from Oslo.
What is it really like to work at the Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) at NMBU?
Would you like to have an impact on the quality of daylight in buildings?
About the position
The Faculty of Science and Technology at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant PhD–position. The PhD position is for a period of 3 years, or up to 4 years if teaching and other work duties are agreed. The PhD scholarship is connected to the department of Building- and Environmental Technology as well as the department of Physics within the Faculty of Science and Technology.
The connection between daylight and the circadian rhythm (i.e. daily bio rhythm) in humans is well established. As well as the importance of the spectral composition of daylight, which varies throughout the day.
There is substantial ongoing work in the field of light and the human response, but this is mainly focused on electrical lighting systems that seek effect the daily biorhythm. There seems therefore to be an opportunity to extend the existing knowledge base on daylight in buildings based on a spectral understanding of daylight and how this impacts architecture and other building design parameters.
We propose to do this by building on existing knowledge on the human response, daylight in buildings, as well as the ongoing effort within circadian lighting systems.
The main aim of this project is to develop knowledge on the spectral composition of daylight inside buildings. This includes fact finding in situ, how the composition is affected by the transit through the glazing element, the spatial variance in a room as well as the dynamic variance throughout the day and year.
An application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD programme at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.
We have compiled a deliberation for this position:
At the outset the candidate will collate the relevant knowledge on the spectral composition of daylight, the transition through an aperture and the spatial and the dynamic variance as well as the relevant models for daylight sensitivity and suppression.
Following, this in situ measurements of the spatial and dynamic spectral composition will be compared to the state of the art with the goal of adding to the existing knowledgebase and recommend a response in the relevant framework (e.g. product and methodology standards) for building design.
The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.
Competence
The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year master’s degree, with a learning outcome corresponding to the descriptions in the Norwegian Qualification Framework, second cycle. Candidates submitting MSs thesis within 30. Mai 2023 may be considered. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.
The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.
Required Academic qualifications
MSc degree in either building physic, physics, indoor environmental engineering, lighting design or daylight design
The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:
Good scientific writing skills
Experience with programming, e. g. python
Experience with or interest in daylight in buildings
Interest or experience with building design
Experience in analyzing large multi-dimensional data sets
Required personal skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
The ability to focus and work independently as well as being a reliable team member
Good knowledge of English language - both written and oral
Desired personal skills
Flexible, social, and open-minded
Positive attitude towards challenges
Remuneration and further information
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017. PhD fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 501200,-) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.
The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NMBU.
Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.
For further information, please contact:
Associate Professor Arnkell Jonas Petersen (arnkell.jonas.petersen@nmbu.no, phone +47 44 69 32 71), (do not use this e-mail for application, it is only for questions)
To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
Application deadline: 01.05.2023
In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.
The following documents must be attached to the application:
Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
Complete CV
Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Di-ploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.
Confirmation that information and documentation submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process
