Transforming Built and Urban Microclimates
Funded PhD position in Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering
Last updated: September 17, 2025, 10:12 a.m.
Supervisory details
Supervisor: Muthu Packirisamy
Department: Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering
University: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
Start date: Winter 2026
PhD Fellowship: 35K CAD per year for 4 years
Project overview
Join a multidisciplinary team working at the forefront of climate resilience, energy retrofits, and sustainable technologies for northern and urban Canadian communities. This project focuses on developing innovative, low- carbon, and electrified building solutions to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events.
Dr. Packirisamy’s team will develop lab-on-a-chip microfluidic technologies and photosynthetic green panels using algae bio-voltaic cells to generate clean energy while reducing building loads and sequestering carbon. These Smart Carbon-Neutral Building technologies represent the next generation of energy solutions—scalable, efficient, and suitable for diverse building environments.
Role description
Under Dr. Packirisamy’s supervision, you will:
- Contribute to cutting-edge research in optical MEMS, bioMEMS, microfluidic power generation, and net-zero architecture.
- Participate in experimental design, microfabrication, and field testing of novel energy-harvesting systems. Collaborate with experts in building science, AI, and climate modeling from across Canada.
- Help address pressing challenges in Indigenous and northern communities by contributing to sustainable retrofit solutions.
- Work at Concordia’s FBL labs and NRC’s test houses, with access to state-of-the-art facilities and commercialization opportunities.
- Background in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, or related field.
- Experience with MEMS/NEMS, microfluidics, photovoltaics, or biosensors is a strong asset. Interest in interdisciplinary, real-world solutions for clean energy and climate adaptation.
- Self-motivated, collaborative, and curious to explore innovative engineering for societal benefit.
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
- References
- Publications, if any
- Any other documents that might benefit your file
Applications must be in screen-readable PDF.
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 as:
Transforming Microclimates_Your Name
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Questions/contact
For all questions, please contact Alisa Makusheva at alisa.makusheva@concordia.ca.
