Aalto Energy Efficiency Research Programme (AEF) is an interdisciplinary programme that coordinates projects aimed at improving energy efficiency. As part of this project, a research called Wood Life: Energy- efficient living spaces through the use of wooden interior elements is financed (please visit: http://energyefficiency.aalto.fi/en/research/woodlife/ ). This research that is a common endeavor of schools of Engineering, Chemical Technology and School of Arts, Design and Architecture is led by prof Mark Hughes.

We are looking for a doctoral student who would work in the Wood Life project studying the users experiences. The user experiences will be studied as a multisensory perceptual experience: the perception of thermal comfort and users tactile perceptions of various wooden materials will be tested among potential users. Another level of the research can study users stated preferences and choices and i.e. the acceptability of the various design solutions or the modifications applied to wooden materials.

Research Group

The doctoral student will be working in the research group Land Use Planning and Urban Studies Group (YTK) in the School of Engineering and supervised by prof Marketta Kyttä. Her research team concentrates on the study of people-environment relationship and the methodological considerations of participatory planning. This research field that concerns the human centered living environment is approached interdisciplinary, with the complementary approaches deriving from environmental psychology, human geography and sociology complemented with the empirical tools provided by geoinformatics and eplanning.

Requirements

Good background in psychology, preferably in perceptual and/or environmental psychology is required for the applicants. Background in experimental tradition and quantitative research methodology is an advantage. Fluent written and spoken English are necessary. The applicant for a doctoral student position must fulfill the requirements for doctoral students at Aalto University. Experience in working in a multidisciplinary or an international research team is considered as advantages. The working language of the project is English. The position will be filled for a fixed term (3 years) starting January 2014.

Required application documents

1. CV
2. Study transcript record
3. Summary of the Masters thesis
4. List of publications
5. Motivation letter

All material should be submitted in English. The application materials will not be returned.

The application is to be addressed to Department of Real Estate, Planning and Geoinformatics and submitted to Marketta.kytta@aalto.fi no later than December 13th 2013.

Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

(the vacancy on the University website)