Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Future-Proofing Urban Development)

Job Description:

The Department of Architectural Engineering at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to contribute to the research project “Future-Proofing Urban Development in the UAE: Integrating IEA and IPCC Scenarios for Assessing Building Retrofit Impacts on Microclimate and Policy Development.” The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Prof. Hasim Altan and play a key role in advancing research on urban climate resilience, building retrofitting strategies, and sustainable urban development. The postdoctoral fellow will be responsible for developing and applying advanced microclimate simulation models (e.g., ENVI-met), integrating global climate scenarios (IEA and IPCC), and assessing the impact of building retrofit strategies on urban heat island (UHI) mitigation, thermal comfort, and energy efficiency in UAE cities. Key responsibilities include: • Conducting literature reviews on urban heat island mitigation, building retrofits, and climate scenarios • Developing and running urban microclimate simulations • Processing and analyzing climate and building data • Supporting GIS-based analysis and scenario modeling • Contributing to policy analysis and development of evidence-based recommendations • Preparing high-quality research publications and reports • Assisting in dissemination activities including conferences and workshops The position is part of a 2-year funded research project and offers the opportunity to contribute to high-impact research aligned with UAE sustainability and Net Zero goals.

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in Architectural Engineering, Building Science, Urban Climate, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related field • Demonstrated experience in building performance simulation or urban climate modeling • Strong analytical and quantitative research skills • Experience with simulation tools (e.g., ENVI-met, EnergyPlus, or similar) • Proficiency in data analysis and visualization • Excellent academic writing and publication record (or strong potential) • Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in urban microclimate modeling and UHI analysis • Familiarity with IEA/IPCC climate scenarios or climate data analysis • Knowledge of GIS tools and spatial analysis • Experience with sustainable building design and retrofit strategies • Understanding of UAE or hot-arid climate conditions • Experience contributing to policy-oriented or applied research • Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills