Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainable, Resilient & Energy-Efficient Smart Cities

Competition 1797

This position offers a benefits package found at Postdoctoral Fellows Benefits.

Location - Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more

Position Summary

Dr. Mustafa Gül, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell, from the Rehabilitation Robotics Lab at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, invite applications for a postdoctoral fellow position in collaboration with the U of A 5G Living Lab.

This position is available immediately and will involve working on projects in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep learning with applications in two key areas:

1. AI-Powered Machine Vision for Accessibility Assessment: Developing automated frameworks to identify accessibility barriers in public spaces using visual data.

2. Reinforcement Learning for Energy-Efficient Buildings: Leveraging IoT-enabled technologies to optimize energy performance in buildings with solar panels through data-driven techniques.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate expertise relevant to both projects and articulate how their background and skills align with the position's requirements.

The initial term of the position is for one year, with the potential for renewal based on performance and funding availability.

Duties 

• Conduct cutting-edge research in AI-powered machine vision for identifying accessibility barriers in public spaces and reinforcement learning for optimizing energy-efficient buildings.
• Develop and implement advanced machine learning and deep learning models, leveraging large datasets and IoT-enabled technologies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including researchers and industry partners, to ensure the successful execution of project goals.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students, fostering skill development in research and technical areas.
• Prepare high-quality research publications and presentations to share findings with the academic and professional communities.
• Contribute to grant proposal writing and funding applications to support ongoing research initiatives.

Qualifications

(1) Educational Background:

• A Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or other related fields.

(2) Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of machine learning, deep learning, or reinforcement learning concepts, with demonstrated experience in applying one or more of these techniques to advanced research problems. (Candidates should be able to provide evidence of their direct involvement in such projects.)
• Strong programming skills with proficiency in Python and its relevant libraries for machine learning (e.g., scikit-learn), deep learning (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch), data manipulation (e.g., NumPy, Pandas), and visualization. Familiarity with SQL and relational databases is an asset.
• Strong data analytics and management skills with a demonstrable ability to clean, process, validate, and analyze large diverse datasets from various sources to identify patterns, trends, and insights.
• Experience with large-scale scientific computations using high-performance computing environments, including clusters, parallel computing techniques, and GPU-accelerated hardware, with the ability to manage complex workflows efficiently.
• Strong publication and presentation track record in related fields.
• For Project (1) familiarity with computer vision hardware and sensing devices is considered an asset.
• For Project (2) experience with energy simulation software (e.g., EnergyPlus) and PV simulation/design tools is considered an asset.

(3) Leadership and Organizational Skills:

• Experience and interest in mentoring and training students as part of a cross-disciplinary research team.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, demonstrating leadership qualities, effective collaboration with partners, and the capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present to a wide range of audiences.
• Experience in proposal development and grant writing.