Optimising datacentre integration in energy systems and the built environment

We are inviting applications for a PhD position dedicated to the design and efficient operation of datacentres systems from the point of view of building services engineering and impact on energy networks. This project seeks to optimise datacentre’s geographical locations and implementing innovative strategies to manage and recover energy effectively.

Candidates will engage in research that combines building services engineering, environmental data analysis, urban analytics, and sustainability principles. This includes exploring efficient HVAC systems tailored for the unique demands of datacentres and the integration in wider energy networks.

The research will critically evaluate the impact of geographic and climatic factors in datacentre designs to harness maximum renewable energy usage and optimum cooling strategies. It will also explore the impacts from the datacentre to the nearby microclimate conditions and methods for waste heat recovery and its reutilisation within building systems.

This interdisciplinary project is ideal for candidates motivated to innovate in the field of sustainable technologies and with a background in building services engineering, environmental engineering, urban climate, or geographical information systems and urban analytics. As such, it will be supervised by an interdisciplinary team, with Dr Daniel Fosas and Dr Desen Kirli from the School of Engineering at The University of Edinburgh, and Professor Qunshan Zhao from the University of Glasgow.

A comprehensive training programme will be provided comprising both specialist scientific training and generic transferable and professional skills. The PhD candidate will be introduced to comprehensive training options. The candidate will have the opportunity to become a teaching assistant following formal training, as well as opportunities to contribute to wider training and outreach activities. Further training in both academic and interdisciplinary skills will be available as part of Edinburgh’s Institute for Academic Development. 

Prepare documentation required for conditional admission in the PhD programme. 

• Engineering PhD application requirements 

Please note that this requires a formal 2-page research proposal.

• How to write a proposal 

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, and we wish to particularly encourage applications from groups underrepresented at this level. To apply to this opportunity, you will need to:

1. Meet entry requirements. Note this mainly relates to 

(a) have a degree classification of at least 2:1 or equivalent, 

(b) have funding (deadline end of January) or plans to apply to our scholarship programme (deadline January 12th 2026), 

(c) meet English requirements. Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.

Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.

Further information and other funding options.