Interdisciplinary

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Volunteer Basis, Potential for UROP Funding, Potential for Academic Credit

Overview

The Sustainable Built Environment Lab, led by Dr. Patricia Fabian at BU School of Public Health is looking for an undergraduate research assistant to investigate novel cooling and clean air technologies for buildings. People spend 90% of their time inside buildings, with implications for their mental and physical health. As the impacts of extreme heat, wildfire smoke and other extreme weather events increase worldwide, buildings are becoming an important part of keeping people healthy. New technologies that can be used to retrofit old building stock, as well as vernacular solutions are an important to advance city climate resilience. The project is part of the Community Adaptations to Heat (https://www.catchcityheat.org/) and the Sustainable Schools research (https://sites.google.com/bu.edu/sustainableschools) projects.

This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in building science, architecture, device engineering and climate and environmental health research. Work will be conducted within a large research group of graduate students and research staff, with opportunities to learn and get involved with other aspects of the projects.

RAs will receive training and mentorship in all stages. Key responsibilities may include:
– Learning about the impacts of extreme heat and indoor air quality on health, and the role of buildings
– Investigating passive and mechanical cooling approaches for buildings, including cool materials and sustainable cooling systems
– Investigating technologies to clean air indoors, including filtration, mechanical ventilation systems
– Summarize findings into easy to read documents for general audiences
– Attending research group meetings and contributing to discussions
– Translating findings into modeling parameters that can be used by the research team in building simulation models like Energy Plus (optional based on interest and expertise)

Students will have the opportunity to become involved across projects and, if desired, pursue independent or mentored research.

Please send CV and expression of interest to Dr. Fabian (pfabian@bu.edu)

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