CARE Non-Student Research Assistant (Personalized Comfort Systems)
Last updated: August 3, 2026, 4:59 p.m.
Posting Period: August 3rd, 2026 – August 18th, 2026
Planned Start Date: September 1st, 2026
Planned End Date: September 1st, 2027
Principal Investigator: Mohamed Ouf (Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering)
Application Instructions: Please email Mohamed Ouf at mohamed.ouf@concordia.ca with the position title in the subject line
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday between the hours of 7AM-7PM, 7 hours per day
Hours: 35 hours per week
Pay Range: $27.03 - $46.79 per hour
Union: CARE
Languages: English required; French preferred
About Us
The Intelligent Buildings and Cities Lab (IBCL), led by Dr. Mohamed Ouf at Concordia University develops AI- and data-driven solutions for smarter, more sustainable buildings. Our interdisciplinary team collaborates with industry, government, and academic partners on cutting-edge research in building intelligence, occupant-centric operation, energy systems, and urban sustainability, providing an exciting environment for innovation and impact.
Description
We are seeking a Non-Student Research Assistant to support research on the Personal Comfort Systems (PCS) project using thermal manikins. The successful candidate will coordinate laboratory experiments, operate and maintain testing equipment, manage data collection and analysis, and support the development and validation of innovative occupant-centric thermal comfort technologies. The candidate will also conduct literature reviews, and surveys, for use in scholarly publications. The candidate will finally compile research results and assist the professor in the analysis of results and the preparation of journal articles or papers.
Desired Traits
- Experience operating laboratory thermal comfort equipment, particularly thermal manikins, environmental chambers, or climate-controlled testing facilities.
- Knowledge of thermal comfort, heat transfer, and personal comfort systems (PCS), with an understanding of experimental methods and relevant standards (e.g., ASHRAE 55, ISO 7730).
- Strong data acquisition and analysis skills, including experience with laboratory instrumentation, sensor calibration, and data processing using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to independently manage laboratory operations, maintain experimental equipment, and support multiple concurrent research activities.
Qualifications
Required Experience
- MASc in Building Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline, with research experience in thermal comfort, HVAC, or building environmental systems.
- Hands-on experience conducting laboratory experiments, preferably involving thermal manikins, environmental chambers, or indoor environmental quality (IEQ) instrumentation.
- Proficiency in experimental data acquisition, processing, and analysis using Python, MATLAB, or similar software.
- Experience with laboratory instrumentation, sensor calibration, and experimental protocol development, with strong attention to detail and a commitment to high-quality research.
“Concordia is a young, forward-looking university. It’s a unique place where experimentation, innovation and creativity are truly valued. Our community of students, faculty, staff and alumni all contribute to our momentum as Canada’s next-gen university.” — Concordia President Graham Carr.
Building on the skills of our faculty and the strengths of Indigenous, local, and global partnerships, we set our sights further and more broadly than others and align the quality of learning opportunities to larger trends and substantial challenges facing society.
Profoundly global, Concordia is recognized for attracting some of the most talented faculty and students from around the world. We are driven by ambition, innovation and a commitment to reconciliation, research and community engagement.
Tiohtià:ke/Montreal is exceptional; safe, vibrant and diverse, with new things to discover around every corner. With a population of 1.7 million, it houses four major universities, several clinical research centres, and has been named the best student city in the world.
Historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations, the city is now home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples, and its residents enjoy the benefits of a thriving multicultural scene. While supporting a significant anglophone population, it is the one of the largest French-speaking cities in the world.
Montreal is famed for its innovative culinary scene and festivals. It was also the first metropolis to be designated a UNESCO City of Design by the Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity. The city is recognized globally as an important centre for commerce, aerospace, transport, finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, design, gaming and film.
Employment Equity
Concordia University is strongly committed to employment equity within its community, and to recruiting a diverse faculty and staff. The University encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, racialized persons, Indigenous persons, 2SLGBTQI+ persons, and persons with disabilities; candidates are invited to self-identify in their applications.
Immigration Status
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and Permanent Residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obliged to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. While applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenship, all applicants must include one of the following statements:
Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
or
No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
