UCL’s Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, in partnership with The NHS, Catapult Energy Systems and The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), are seeking applications for a fully funded Studentship in ‘Exploring Pathways for Decarbonising and Improving Resilience of NHS Healthcare Facilities in England’
This project will research energy performance of existing healthcare facilities and explore challenges and opportunities for decarbonising healthcare facilities of the NHS. Firstly, understanding operational energy performance and key determinants of energy use based on high-resolution data can lead to identifying opportunities for reducing demand for energy. Secondly, improved understanding of the relationships between key parameters and energy use can facilitate exploration of the impact of future energy and climate scenarios.
Supervisors: Dr Sung-Min Hong of UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, Christine St John Cox of Energy Systems Catapult ad Dr Anastasia Mylona of CIBSE
Funding: The studentship will cover UK course fees and an enhanced tax-free stipend of approx. £22,000 per year for 4 years along with a substantial budget for research, travel, and centre activities.
Fees: ERBE CDT has very limited funding for applicants requiring coverage of overseas fees. We advise all interested applicants to be familiar with the changes to EU and International Eligibility for EPSRC/UKRI funded studentships
Dates: 4 years from September 2023
Context and Project description:
In 2020, the NHS committed to achieve net-zero carbon by reducing CO2 emissions from across England. Estates and facilities, which accounted for approximately 15% direct emissions (from energy, waste and staff travel) and a significant amount of indirect emissions (from construction, goods and services and outsourced F provision), were highlighted as having significant opportunities for reductions in emissions by improving energy efficiency of the existing estate. Whilst improving energy efficiency plays an important role in reducing operational energy use and associated CO2 emissions, achieving net-zero carbon requires on and off-site low and zero carbon technologies to further reduce CO2 emissions before any off-setting mechanisms are considered.
In addition to energy efficiency, an aspect of the transition that should be taken into consideration is the resilience of the energy system, the balance between on and off-site generation e.g. from solar and wind, that the NHS estates and facilities will need to achieve in order to make a smooth transition. In addition to the foreseen impacts climate change, the soaring fuel prices [due to the events unravelling in Eastern Europe] have also highlighted the importance of moving towards a flexible system that can cope with future scenarios that could mitigate future risks whilst achieving the desired net zero carbon outcome.
Studentship aims:
This studentship will aim to support the NHS estates’ transition towards a more energy efficient and resilient future. This study will leverage high-resolution data from the NHS healthcare facilities in conjunction with existing databases such as ERIC to generate useful insights for improving operational energy efficiency of Trusts with different demand for care and accompanying services. The study will also aim to generate insights on resilience of estates in relation to anticipated changes in delivery of care as well as in response to broader structural and cultural changes such as electrification of heating.
Person specification:
The applicant should have an interest in building physics and technical aspects of buildings and/or environmental engineering, with strong quantitative and analytical skills and an openness to drawing on qualitative data and approaches. The applicant should have high levels of self-determination and discipline, with the ability to programme workflows, coordinate with relevant persons, and communicate key issues.
A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, in a relevant subject, is essential. Exceptionally: where applicants have other suitable research or professional experience, they may be admitted without a Master’s degree; or where applicants have a lower second-class UK Honours Bachelor’s degree (2:2) (or equivalent) they must possess a relevant Master’s degree to be admitted.
Applicants must also meet the minimum language requirements of UCL
Applicants should be familiar with the changes to EU and International Eligibility for UKRI funded studentships.
How to apply
All CV’s and Cover Letters must be completely anonymised and not contain any references to protected characteristics, such as gender, ethnicity or race.
Please submit your application by email to the UCL ERBE Centre Manager (bseer.erbecdt@ucl.ac.uk) with Subject Reference: 4-year PhD studentship in ‘Exploring Pathways for Decarbonising and Improving Resilience of NHS Healthcare Facilities in England’
The application should include each of the following:
1) An anonymised Cover Letter clearly stating why you are applying and how your interests and experience relate to this project, and your understanding of eligibility according to these guidelines: EU and International Eligibility for EPSRC/UKRI funded studentships
2) An anonymised CV
3) Complete the CDT EPSRC Eligibility Questionnaire and EDI Questionnaire via the linked Microsoft Forms.
Only shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview.
• For the interview shortlisted candidates will be asked to show proof of their degree certificate(s) and transcript(s) of degree(s), and proof of their fees eligibility.
• The interview panel will consist of the project’s academic supervisors at UCL, industry supervisors at Catapult and CIBSE and a representative of the ERBE CDT Academic management. The interview will include a short presentation from the candidate on their ideas of how to approach this PhD project.
Following the interview, the successful candidate will be invited to make a formal application to the UCL Research Degree programme for ERBE CDT.
Deadline for applications: 31st May 2023 @ 23:59 (UK time)
Interviews week commencing: TBC
For further details about the admission process, please contact: bseer.erbecdt@ucl.ac.uk
For any further details regarding the project, contact Dr Sung-Min Hong s.hong@ucl.ac.uk
You will be undertaking this project:
- In UCL at the main (Bloomsbury) campus as part of the new EPSRC-SFI Centre for Doctoral Training in Energy Resilience and the Built Environment (ERBE CDT). This is a collaboration between UCL, Loughborough University and Marine and Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI). For more information please see http://erbecdt.ac.uk
- NHS England provides national leadership for the NHS in England. Through the NHS Long Term Plan, it promotes high quality health and care for all, and support NHS organisations to work in partnership to deliver better outcomes for patients and communities, at the best possible value for taxpayers and to continuously improve the NHS. The NHS has an ambition for the emissions they control directly (the NHS Carbon Footprint), to reach net zero by 2040, aiming to reach an 80% reduction by 2028 to 2032. It’s national Estates and Facilities team lead the development and decarbonisation of the NHS Estate in England. This project will be supported by them throughout the 4 year tenure. https://www.england.nhs.uk/, https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/a-net-zero-nhs/.
- CIBSE HQ, including its technical department, is based in Balham, a short tube ride to UCL. Furthermore, CIBSE offers a large UK and international network of industry professionals in the area of building services. For more information about CIBSE please see: https://www.cibse.org
- The Energy Systems Catapult was set up to accelerate the transformation of the UK’s energy system and ensure UK businesses and consumers capture the opportunities of clean growth on the way to Net Zero. The Catapult, based in Birmingham, is an independent, not-for-profit centre of excellence that bridges the gap between industry, government, academia and research. They take a whole-systems view of the energy sector, helping to identify and address innovation priorities and market barriers, in order to decarbonise the energy system at the lowest cost. https://es.catapult.org.uk/ The Sites team at the Energy Systems Catapult will support the project throughout the duration of the research.