Senior Research�Associate

Illinois Institute of Technology • Chicago, IL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Built Environment Research Group (BERG) in the School of Engineering, Applied Science, and Health at Illinois Institute of Technology seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support an interdisciplinary project developing and evaluating improvised building protection strategies for mitigating indoor exposure to outdoor aerosol hazards. The strategies must utilize common household items to devise systems that maintain positive indoor pressure through filtered outdoor air supply, as well as recirculating filtration to reduce exposure once particles enter a building. The successful candidate will integrate controlled-chamber experiments, field measurements, and physics-based modeling to determine how filter, fan, duct, building, and weather conditions affect air infiltration, particle penetration, energy use, comfort, and the reliability of protective operation.

Requirements

• A completed PhD, awarded by the appointment start date, in architectural engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, building science, aerosol science, or a closely related field.
• Research experience in at least one of the following areas: building airflow and infiltration, indoor air quality, aerosol measurement, HVAC filtration, building energy systems, or building performance modeling.
• Evidence of scientific productivity through peer-reviewed publications, conference papers, or comparable scholarly work.
• Demonstrated experience designing experiments, analyzing multivariable time-series data, and documenting research methods and results.
• Strong understanding of building airflow, pressure driven infiltration, ventilation, filtration, particle transport, and indoor mass balance principles.
• Ability to select, calibrate, deploy, troubleshoot, and maintain research instrumentation and data acquisition systems.
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization using Python or comparable scientific software.
• Ability to develop, calibrate, and evaluate physics-based models and compare model predictions with measured data.
• Strong scientific writing, oral presentation, project organization, and collaborative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple experimental, modeling, and dissemination activities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience conducting chamber experiments or field studies in buildings.
• Experience with aerosol instrumentation, pressure and airflow measurements, tracer gas methods, or environmental monitoring systems.
• Experience with CONTAM or other airflow and building performance simulation tools.
• Experience coordinating research tasks, mentoring students, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams or external sponsors.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct large-chamber experiments to evaluate filter, fan, duct, and improvised connection configurations across airflow rates and pressure differentials.
• Measure and analyze indoor and outdoor fine and ultrafine particle concentrations, building pressure differences, airflow and air change rates, weather and thermal conditions, and electrical power use.
• Design and execute short- and long-term field studies in test homes and residences, including equipment installation, quality assurance, maintenance, and data retrieval.
• Estimate and interpret air change rates, particle penetration and infiltration factors, and indoor removal rates under baseline and positive pressurization conditions.
• Develop and validate single- and multizone airflow models using CONTAM or comparable tools, and conduct parametric analyses across building types, climates, weather conditions, and system configurations.
• Maintain organized data, code, experimental records, protocols, and quality control documentation to support reproducible research.
• Prepare peer-reviewed manuscripts, technical reports, conference presentations, sponsor updates, and public-facing guidance in text, visual, and video formats.
• Coordinate research activities with principal investigators and collaborators and mentor graduate and undergraduate researchers.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision coverage
• life and long-term disability insurance
• a 403(b) retirement plan with university contributions and matching for eligible employees
• tuition assistance programs
• flexible spending and commuter benefits
• an employee assistance program
• university holidays
• applicable paid and job-protected leave benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree