PhD Position in Optimal and Robust Hygrothermal Design of Interior Insulation Systems for the Preservation of Heritage Buildings
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Belgium
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KU Leuven
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On Campus (Full Time)
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Research Assistantship (RA)
September 17, 2025
On Campus (Full Time) Position Details (PhD Research Project)
A full-time PhD position in optimal and robust hygrothermal design of interior insulation systems for the preservation of heritage buildings is available at the Building Physics and Sustainable Design section. The Building Physics and Sustainable Design section is part of the Department of Civil Engineering of KU Leuven, and performs research on different scales, i.e. the material level, the building component level, the building level and the built environment, as well as on the building occupants’ behaviour and its impact. Previous research on interior insulation carried out by the Building Physics and Sustainable Design section (a.o. within the supervisor’s PhD project and within the European Horizon RiBuild project) provides a solid basis for the intended PhD project and makes it possible to take the next important steps towards a well-considered and risk-free choice of internal insulation for heritage buildings.
Website unit
Project
The European building stock is responsible for about 40% of the EU’s total energy consumption. To achieve the European Green Deal’s goal of climate neutrality and to combat climate change, there is an urgent need for energy efficient and recourse efficient renovation strategies. Heritage buildings cannot be ignored in this respect, yet include various challenges, and climate change will only exacerbate these challenges. The application of interior insulation is frequently pressed forward as the only possible post-insulation technique for a thermal upgrade of heritage walls. However, this technique is also known as the most risky one, as several damage patterns such as interstitial condensation, frost damage and mould or wood decay could occur. Despite the extensive research into interior insulation, many questions regarding the safe application of interior insulation systems remain. Furthermore, the wide variety of interior insulation systems available on the market, which has seen enormous growth in recent years with new bio-based systems, brings additional challenges. More knowledge on the different systems and their hygrothermal response is needed still to fully utilize their potential in our efforts to reduce the energy use of historic buildings without introducing damage, and to preserve our heritage buildings.
The goal of the envisaged PhD project is developing a generic framework for the optimal and robust hygrothermal design of interior insulation systems for heritage buildings. Theretofore, experimental and numerical research on both the material and component level are foreseen. Hygrothermal material properties of both traditional and novel interior insulation systems, such as moisture buffering and bio-based systems, as well as systems showing promise in the heritage context, will be characterized, for which novel methodologies will be developed. In parallel, attention will be drawn to the hygrothermal performance of heritage masonry in practice, and how to reckon this in numerical modeling analyses on the hygrothermal response of internally insulated walls. Field measurements at a recently built cutting-edge large-scale test facility, funded by the Flemish Resilience recovery plan, are foreseen and will allow a data-driven hygrothermal modeling approach. AI techniques, including neural networks, will allow thorough probabilistic hygrothermal modeling, which will serve as the foundation for the development of an optimal and robust hygrothermal design for interior insulation systems, taking into account the potential impact of climate change.
The research will be supervised by prof. Evy Vereecken (KU Leuven, Department of Civil Engineering, and Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage) and co-supervised by prof. Staf Roels (KU Leuven, Department of Civi Engineering).
In addition to performing research, your work activities will consist of:
- publishing your research in (inter)national academic journals (and books), presenting your research at (inter)national seminars and conferences, as well as disseminating your work to a non-academic audience;
- following the doctoral training at the Arenberg Doctoral School of KU Leuven, and writing a PhD thesis;
- providing teaching assistance at the Department of Civil Engineering and within the Master of Conservation of Monuments and Sites, e.g. assistance during practice sessions, supervising master theses, surveillance of exams.
Profile
We are looking for a dynamic and highly-motivated PhD candidate, who:
- has obtained a Master’s degree in Engineering Science with a specialty in Civil Engineering, Materials Engineering, Architecture or another equivalent Master at the starting date of the contract;
- has obtained his/her Master’s degree with minimum distinction and/or can prove a distinguishment within his/her studies or academic career based on other achievements, awards or endorsements;
- is pro-active, critical and creative-minded;
- is capable working autonomous as well as in a team;
- is interested in conservation of built heritage;
- is interested in both numerical and experimental (lab and in-situ) research work;
- is motivated to write, with the support of the supervisors, an application for a personal (FWO) grant for a PhD fellowship;
- has a very good knowledge of English;
- is living in Belgium, or is willing to move to Belgium for the duration of the project.
Offer
We offer an appointment as a full-time PhD scholarship for the duration of 1 year, which is (after a positive assessment) extendable to 4 years. You will be part of KU Leuven, a world-class university, that offers an exiting work environment and plenty of training possibilities to leverage your experience and your (hard and soft) skills; more information can be found via the website of the Arenberg Doctoral School. Additionally, via your peers, colleagues and supervisor an extensive national and international (both academic and non-academic) network to collaborate with is offered. Also, possibilities to link your research to practical experiences will be offered (a.o. via our contacts with the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, Buildwise, Daidalos Peutz and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands,…).
Your location of employment will be the Department of Civil Engineering, Arenbergpark in Heverlee (Leuven). A flexible work schedule and possibility to work partly from home will be offered. Your salary scale is bound to your staff category. More information on the salary and other benefits can be found via the KU Leuven job site. The starting date of the PhD position is envisioned in January 2026; though, based on your availability, an adjusted starting date can be discussed.
KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility support, please contact us at [email protected].
Arenberg Doctoral School
KU Leuven job site
Interested?
Candidates are invited to apply no later than September 18, 2025 via the online application tool. Please include in your application file (in English):
- a cover letter with a clear motivation (maximum 2 pages);
- an extended curriculum vitae;
- an academic transcript of your BA and MA degree(s);
- a sample of relevant research or work experience (e.g. a pdf of your Master Thesis, a publication, student project,…);
- the name(s) and contact details of at least one referee whom might be contacted during the selection process.
For more information, please contact prof. Evy Vereecken ([email protected]) or prof. Staf Roels ([email protected]). If you encounter problems submitting your application online, please send an email to [email protected]. Short listed candidates will be contacted to arrange a date for an interview that will take place between November 4 and November 7, 2025.
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