Post-Doctoral Researcher – Urban and Building Integration of Food Production Systems

Job Description

Applicants are invited for the position of Post-Doctoral Researcher to join a dynamic research project on the “Integration of food production into urban living environments” in the Department of Architectural Engineering, United Arab Emirates University. The successful candidate will work on innovative solutions to integrate food production systems at both urban and building scales, addressing key issues such as food security, water conservation, and energy efficiency. This interdisciplinary project aims to transcend technological and socio-economic boundaries, optimizing food production within urban spaces and building environments to enhance sustainability, resource efficiency, social awareness, and aesthetic value, while contributing to improved food security.

Minimum Qualification

The ideal candidate is a creative and dynamic researcher with a:

1. PhD in Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline with a focus on sustainable building design and building-integrated systems for food production.
2. Expertise in designing and optimizing food production systems within urban and building environments.
3. Experience leading experimental trials, including data collection and analysis to improve energy efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in food production.
4. Ability to collaborate cross-disciplinarily with architects, engineers, and environmental scientists to integrate food production systems into urban settings and building structures.
5. Strong research, with a proven track record of writing, and communication skills, including publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at conferences.
6. Solid project management abilities to track milestones, report progress, and communicate results to stakeholders and funding agencies.

• Experience in urban agriculture, vertical farming, and sustainable food production within urban and building environments.
• Expertise in water conservation, renewable energy, and resource-efficient designs for food production systems.
• Knowledge of vertical farming, rooftop farming, and other innovative urban agriculture techniques.
• Understanding of socio-economic aspects of urban agriculture and community engagement.
• Proficiency in environmental modeling and simulation tools for building systems.
• Strong interdisciplinary collaboration skills, bridging technology, design, and sustainability.
• Experience integrating aesthetics into sustainable urban food production projects.
• Proven success in grant writing, research management, and excellent writing skills for publishing and reporting.
• Be adaptable and flexible to the continuous changes associated with research demands.

1. A cover letter outlining your interest in the position and relevant experience.
2. A detailed CV, including a list of publications.
3. A research statement (1-2 pages maximum) summarizing your previous work and proposed contributions to this project.
4. Contact information for three academic or professional references.