KTP Research Associate: AI for Innovative and Sustainable Retrofit Design

About us

UCL and ECD Architects are coming together through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). This role offers a springboard to a career in both industry and academia to postgraduates and postdocs interested in implementing AI and machine learning in a building design practice. The successful candidate will get to apply their commercial, technical, project management and creative skills on a daily basis to a cutting-edge innovative project that will shape the future of sustainable design in the construction sector.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a postgraduate/doctoral degree in Building Physics, Building Performance Modelling, Data Analytics for Smart Buildings, Machine Learning or a closely related subject. The post holder will lead a cutting-edge innovation project that will implement Artificial Intelligence in ECD Architects to improve productivity within the practice and develop a new service that can improve the design process of housing projects. Based at ECD London office, you will coordinate the development of this project from the beginning to the end and engage with industry stakeholders to establish yourself as a thought leader in the field of implementing AI in the construction sector. You will review existing workstreams and data management practices, implementing AI and machine learning principles to automate data processing and enhance the efficiency and quality of data processing for retrofit projects within ECD, and develop an AI model for building perform ance prediction at the early stages of design. You will also have the opportunity to write publications about the work alongside the academic and company team. The vacancy is available from 01 January 2025 and the successful candidate must be in post by 01 February 2025. The post has funding for 24 months in the first instance, further funding to support the post may be available.

If you have any queries regarding the vacancy, or the application process, please contact bseer-recruitment@ucl.ac.uk.

If you have specific questions about the role please contact Dr Esfand Burman, esfand.burman@ucl.ac.uk

About you

You will have strong communication skills, a collaborative and self-motivated attitude, and good project management skills. A background in data science and sustainable building design will enable the post-holder i) to analyse the state of the knowledge and practice in data management for building design with special focus on retrofit housing projects, and ii) to lead the development of a new data management system and AI-based building performance modelling to enhance the design process. Find out more about KTPs here: https://www.ktp-uk.org/graduates/

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