PhD Research Scholarship: Thermal environment and productivity/

About us

The Cities Research Institute at Griffith University has one of the largest concentrations of researchers in Australia focussed on all aspects of cities and urban change, who are at the forefront of building our understandings of how cities work and change. The Institute had 50 full academic members, 31 associate members, and 144 HDR students in 2022, attracting research income in 2022 of over $9,790,703 million.

We are looking for a PhD candidate to work on an Australian Research Council (ARC) funded DECRA Project led by Dr Fan Zhang. This project aims to quantify thermal environmental impacts on office productivity. It expects to firmly dismiss the prevailing misbelief that an indoor temperature of 22 °C leads to maximum workplace productivity, and create a paradigm shift in building management practice in commercial buildings. Outcomes of this project include a novel productivity metric, a standard measurement protocol for assessing thermal environmental impacts on office productivity, and indoor thermal environmental control guidelines tailored to diverse cognitive activities in the workplaces of different industries. The PhD candidate will undertake specific components of this project, under the primary supervision of Dr Fan Zhang and Professor Ian Stewart (QUT).

The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background. To be successful with this role, you should satisfy the following essential criterion.

The following attributes and experiences are essential:

• Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete prior to commencing the doctorate, a Bachelor’s Degree with first class or second upper honours, or a Research Master’s Degree in a related field (e.g., environment psychology, ergonomics, environment physiology, public health, or architectural engineering), of a standard comparable to a Bachelor Honours degree or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment. For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer here.

The following attributes and experiences are desirable:

• Experience in conducting human subject research in a climate chamber.
• Experience with some statistical analysis and/or data modelling.
• Experience with publishing in high-quality peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic and international applicants able to commence in early/mid 2023. International applicants should ensure that English Language Proficiency requirements (listed below) are met before formally applying:

1. A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0
2. OR a minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL including a score of no less than 5.0 on the TWE
3. OR a score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19

About the scholarship

The living allowance stipend will be $32,192 per annum tax-free for three years (2023 rate, indexed annually). Project funding to undertake the research, conference travel and incidentals is also provided.

A successful international applicant will also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to cover tuition fees for up to three years (noting the onshore requirement mentioned previously). Please see the GUIPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

EoI process

Please do not press the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to Dr Fan Zhang ([email protected]) containing:

·         Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
·         A brief CV (1-3 pages)
·         Academic transcript
·         Name and contact details of two referees. It is advisable that at least one of the
referees has direct knowledge of your research skills, for example previous
Honours or Masters supervisor.

The closing date for expressions of interest is: 5:00 PM AEST on 16 December 2022

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship online.

What Griffith offers

As a scholarship holder, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith’s strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

Further information

For project related enquiries please contact:
Dr Fan Zhang
Email: [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Phone: (07) 3735 3817
Email: [email protected]