Electrifying Montreal International Airport: A Living Lab Demonstrating Stakeholder-Driven Pathways to Decarbonization of Major Infrastructure
Funded PhD position in Building Engineering
Last updated: August 5, 2025, 10:42 a.m.
Supervisory details
Supervisor: Andreas K. Athienitis
Department: Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science
University: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
Start date: Flexible (Fall 2025, Winter 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 reduced-order, physics-informed grey box thermal models of airport buildings based on historical sensor data and machine learning for accurate yet computationally efficient simulation of thermal dynamics.
- Design and implement a model-predictive control (MPC) framework that integrates day-ahead weather forecasts and occupancy predictions to optimize building energy use while maintaining occupant comfort and operational constraints.
- Incorporate adaptive feedback loops within the MPC to dynamically update control strategies in response to real-time data deviations, ensuring robust and resilient building operation.
- Conduct rigorous simulation studies using digital twins to validate and refine MPC strategies across diverse operational scenarios before pilot field implementations.
- Analyze, design, and prototype the integration of solar energy solutions including PV, BIPV, BIPV/T, and STPV technologies tailored for different airport expansion components (roofs, façades, canopies).
- Collaborate closely with design consultants and airport authorities to evaluate the feasibility, cost- effectiveness, and operational benefits of integrating PV technologies with building systems and de-icing solutions for winter efficiency.
Research areas
- Solar Energy Engineering
- Energy Efficiency
- Renewable energy
- Energy efficiency
- Integrated photovoltaics/solar energy utilization systems
- Modeling, optimization and control of building thermal systems
- Heating ventilation air-conditioning (HVAC)
- Numerical simulation of heat transfer
- Thermal performance of the building envelope
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Engineering, Energy Systems, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Science, or related areas.
- Strong background in building energy modeling, thermal dynamics, and reduced-order model development using grey box or RC network approaches.
- Experience with model-predictive control (MPC) and advanced control optimization techniques for building systems.
- Proficiency in machine learning/statistical methods for model calibration and prediction refinement using sensor and environmental data.
- Skills in digital twin simulation and validation of control strategies under varying operational scenarios.
- Knowledge of solar photovoltaic technologies, including BIPV, BIPV/T, and semi-transparent PV systems, and their integration into building envelopes and infrastructure.
- Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including design consultants, facility managers, and stakeholders to ensure practical and scalable renewable energy and control solutions.
- Fully funded PhD position with a competitive annual stipend, including additional funding for research-related travel, conferences, and collaboration with industry and policy partners.
- Hands-on experience with advanced building energy modeling, model-predictive control (MPC), and integration of cutting-edge solar photovoltaic technologies in large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary research combining control optimization, solar energy integration, and sustainable infrastructure development in a high-profile airport expansion context.
- Structured mentorship from experienced researchers and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team focused on innovation in building automation and renewable energy systems.
- Strong support for publishing research in top-tier journals and presenting at international conferences related to energy systems, smart buildings, and renewable technologies.
- Access to a vibrant research environment at Concordia University in Montreal, internationally recognized for excellence in sustainable energy, smart infrastructure, and climate-responsive design.
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 Airport_Your name.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
Questions/contact
For all questions, please contact Alisa Makusheva at alisa.makusheva@concordia.ca.
