A new three-year project initiated by construction giant Brookfield Multiplex and leading design and engineering consultancies HASSELL and AECOM in partnership with CRC for Low Carbon Living aims to make a substantial contribution to the future of sustainable building design.

To demonstrate the impact of building design on people’s health, wellbeing, productivity and the environment, the ‘Closing the Loop’ project will connect decision and policy makers with the wealth of evidence that exists in support of high-performance sustainable buildings.

The ‘Closing the Loop’ project will offer three scholarships for undertaking full time PhD research for the project at one of the partner universities: University of New South Wales, Curtin University, University of South Australia and Melbourne University. The successful candidates will form a part of a collaborative team working under the guidance of an experienced post doctoral researcher as well as supervision of leading academic and industry partners.

The specific PhD research topic will cover one or more of the following project themes:

Theme 1: Evidence for low carbon, health and productivity outcomes – development of a systematic evidence base for the low carbon, health and productivity benefits that can be delivered through design, engineering and management-based building interventions. This will include the review, assessment, analysis and synthesis of the global evidence base.

Theme 2: Common currency for low carbon, health and productivity outcomes – development of measures that allow the assessment and comparison of the effectiveness of design, engineering and management-based building interventions from the perspectives of low carbon, health and productivity.

Theme 3: Building project decision-making analysis – analysis of the decision making process and the various actors/roles involved in the pre-project, briefing, design, construction and operational stages of a building to determine when, what form and to whom the evidence should be delivered to ensure its greatest impact and use.

Candidates with backgrounds including but not limited to architecture, engineering, psychology, social health, business, economics, social science and sustainability are preferred. Those with industry experience are encouraged to apply. A First-Class Honours degree or Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline is required and successful candidates will receive an annual stipend of $30,000 (tax free for Australian residents).

Interested candidates should apply to Dr Lan Ding through [email protected]. Applications must include a cover letter detailing interest, experience and skills, a CV, academic transcript, and the names and contact details of two references.

The deadline for applications is Friday 5 September 2014.