Electrifying Montreal International Airport
Funded PhD position in Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Last updated: November 18, 2025, 10 a.m.
Supervisory details
Supervisor: Radu Grigore Zmeureanu
Department: Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science
University: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
Start date: Winter 2026, Summer 2026, Fall 2026
PhD Fellowship: 35K CAD per year for 4 years
Project overview
The Living Lab at Montreal International Airport aims to reduce emissions and boost electrification while enhancing stakeholder experience. In partnership with key public and private organizations, the project targets five goals: measurement protocols, building optimization, alternative energy design, energy resilience, and financing models. Aligned with the airport’s net-zero 2040 target and the ACCESS 2030 expansion, it will deliver scalable economic, social, and environmental benefits for airports and large buildings across Canada.
Role description
- Develop and refine energy and GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions benchmarking methodologies using sub-metering strategies and virtual metering approaches.
- Analyze Building Automation System (BAS) data to evaluate performance of HVAC subsystems and identify energy-saving opportunities.
- Apply ASHRAE Guideline 14 and International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) standards for robust measurement and verification (M&V).
- Conduct ongoing commissioning and fault detection/diagnosis (FDD) for HVAC systems, identifying both hard and soft faults through data-driven techniques.
- Collaborate with project partners to ensure that occupant comfort, behaviour, and expectations are integrated into benchmarking and fault analysis.
- Prepare technical reports, research articles, and presentations summarizing energy efficiency strategies and their impact on GHG reduction and building performance.
Research areas
- Energy efficiency
- Design and analysis of energy-efficient buildings
- Sustainable development concept applied to buildings
- Optimization of life cycle performance of buildings and HVAC systems
- Computer modeling of energy performance of buildings and HVAC systems
- Net zero energy buildings
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Building Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Energy Systems, or a related field.
- Strong background in HVAC systems, energy efficiency, or sustainable building operations.
- Experience with energy modelling software (EnergyPlus, TRNSYS) and programming tools (MATLAB, Python).
- Knowledge of measurement and verification (M&V) protocols such as ASHRAE Guideline 14 and IPMVP.
- Familiarity with fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) methods for building/HVAC systems, including BAS data analysis.
- Strong skills in data analysis, statistical modelling, or machine learning techniques applied to building energy systems.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, prepare publications, and collaborate in interdisciplinary teams.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical findings to academic and industry audiences.
- A competitive funding package with additional support for conference travel, training, and professional development.
- Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research on energy benchmarking, ongoing commissioning, and fault detection for large-scale buildings and critical infrastructure.
- Access to state-of-the-art Building Automation Systems (BAS), laboratories, and simulation tools at Concordia University.
- Supervision and mentorship from Professor Radu Grigore Zmeureanu, a recognized leader in energy efficiency and HVAC systems, Fellow of multiple prestigious engineering organizations.
- Exposure to real-world applications in sustainable building operations, including energy and GHG emission reduction in complex facilities such as airports.
- A strong foundation for publications in top-tier journals and conferences in building engineering, energy efficiency, and sustainability.
- Collaboration within a multidisciplinary research environment, fostering partnerships with industry, government, and academic stakeholders.
Please combine the following documents into a single PDF file.
- Letter of intent strongly aligned with the project and the research domain of the professor
- Academic CV
- Transcripts
- Names and contact information of 3 referees
- Publications if any
- Any other documents that might benefit your file
If you are already in Canada, or if you’re a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident, please highlight this in your communications.
Send your PDF file to volt-age.recruitment@concordia.ca with the subject GHG_Your name.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
Questions/contact
For all questions, please contact Alisa Makusheva at alisa.makusheva@concordia.ca.
