Overview
Area Chemical & Environmental Engineering
Location UK Other
Closing Date Open Until Filled
Reference ENG307
Project title
Retrofitting UK Schools for Health, Performance, and Climate Resilience
Project context
This exciting opportunity is based within the Buildings, Energy and Environment (BEE) Research Group in the Faculty of Engineering. The BEE Research Group conducts cutting-edge research into low-energy buildings, building performance, retrofit and decarbonisation, indoor environmental quality, and climate-resilient design, providing a strong interdisciplinary environment for doctoral research.
Vision
This project aims to transform the UK school estate by developing evidence-based, climate-resilient retrofit strategies that deliver healthier indoor environments, lower carbon emissions, and long-term building performance. By integrating Passive House and EnerPHit principles with real building data, the research will support the creation of future-ready schools that protect children’s wellbeing while contributing to national net-zero and climate adaptation goals.
Motivation
This project is aimed at a highly motivated PhD student with an interest in sustainable buildings, retrofit, and environmental performance, who is keen to work with real buildings, performance data, and applied research challenges. The successful candidate will be curious, analytical, and motivated to tackle real-world problems at the intersection of energy, health, and climate resilience. The research will address under-researched, socially critical building types in the UK educational sector, focusing on schools with issues such as poor energy performance, overheating, inadequate ventilation, and moisture risks.
Aim
You will have the opportunity to develop an evidence-based, Passive House–informed retrofit framework for UK school buildings, focusing on energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and climate resilience. You will gain hands-on experience in building performance evaluation, hygrothermal analysis, whole-life carbon assessment, and in-situ environmental monitoring, working with real school buildings and measured datasets. The research aims to deliver practical, scalable retrofit solutions that support healthier learning environments and national net-zero ambitions. You will work with an experienced supervisory team within the BEE Research Group. The project will be led by Dr Sara Mohamed, with co-supervision from academic colleagues within the BEE Research Group. You will engage with advanced research facilities, real building datasets, and, where appropriate, industry partners and external stakeholders, developing skills relevant to both academic and professional practice.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated, and resourceful PhD candidate with a strong interest in sustainable buildings, retrofit, and environmental performance. The successful applicant will be motivated to address real-world challenges related to energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and climate resilience, particularly in educational buildings.
Essential competences
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills
* A high level of independence and self-motivation
* An analytical mindset with strong problem-solving abilities
* Strong organisational and time-management skills
* Ability to work effectively both independently and within a research team
Desirable competences
* A background in architecture or interdisciplinary built-environment fields
* Experience in sustainable architecture or building physics
* A strong interest in retrofit research
* Confidence in using quantitative methods, including environmental monitoring and performance evaluation
* Experience or interest in dynamic building performance analysis
* Ability to collaborate and engage with a range of stakeholders, including academic, industry, and user groups
* Strong analytical skills and the ability to handle data confidently and ethically
Entry requirements
A first-class or 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
A relevant Master’s degree, or equivalent professional experience, in sustainable design, building physics, energy modelling, or environmental performance is highly desirable.
Funding, environment & equality
Funding will be sought from the University of Nottingham as part of a competitive process, covering home tuition fees and a UKRI doctoral stipend. The University of Nottingham actively supports Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The Faculty of Engineering provides a thriving research environment for postgraduate researchers, fostering a strong sense of community across disciplines. PGRs benefit from training through the Researcher Academy Training Programme, including bespoke courses for Engineering researchers on academic writing, networking, and career development. The faculty also offers outstanding facilities and maintains strong partnerships with leading industrial collaborators.
Funding information
After a suitable candidate is found, funding is then sought from the University of Nottingham as part of a competitive process (this will cover home tuition fees and UKRI stipend). The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The Faculty of Engineering provides a thriving working environment for all PGRs creating a strong sense of community across research disciplines. PGRs benefit from training through the Researcher Academy’s Training Programme, with bespoke sessions for Engineering PGRs on paper writing, networking and career development after the PhD. The Faculty has outstanding facilities and works in partnership with leading industrial partners.
How to apply
Please contact Sara Mohamed with your CV and supporting statement to apply for this project — sara.mohamed3@nottingham.ac.uk
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