Postdoc Human-Centred Thermal Comfort and Machine Learning for Electric Vehicles

At TU Delft, the Intelligent Vehicles (IV) group is seeking a highly motivated researcher for a postdoc position focused on human-centred thermal comfort and machine learning for electric vehicles.

Job description

The Intelligent Vehicles (IV) group at TU Delft aims to increase the safety, comfort and sustainability of transportation by means of automated driving. The group conducts problem-driven research within the interdisciplinary spectrum of machine perception, dynamics and control, and human factors.

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher to contribute to the development of next-generation thermal comfort technologies for Battery Electric Vehicles. The successful candidate will develop advanced thermal comfort metrics by combining physiological measurements, subjective user feedback, and environmental data. The research will involve machine learning, human-centred experimentation, real-time comfort prediction, and the integration of intelligent climate control systems into vehicle platforms. The position includes the design and execution of simulator-based studies, development of predictive comfort models, and validation of thermal comfort solutions using diverse participant groups.

This position is part of the ongoing EU project AETHER (Advanced Thermal Comfort and Energy Management for Personalized, Efficient and Weather-Aware Electric Vehicle Operation), involving several partners from the automotive industry and research institutions across Europe.

Key responsibilities

• Develop advanced thermal comfort metrics using multimodal physiological, environmental, and subjective assessment.
• Design and implement machine learning algorithms for real-time prediction of occupant thermal comfort.
• Analyse physiological signals including skin temperature, skin conductance, heart rate, and wearable sensor data.
• Develop and validate comfort prediction models targeting high prediction accuracy using a dynamic driving simulator and real-world operating conditions.
• Integrate thermal comfort models into vehicle climate control systems for adaptive heating, cooling, and ventilation strategies.
• Design, conduct, and analyse human-subject experiments involving diverse participant groups.
• Collaborate with academic and industrial partners on system integration, validation, and dissemination activities.
• Publish research findings in leading scientific journals and present results at international conferences.

Within AETHER, the candidate will collaborate with industrial and academic partners focusing on thermal comfort modelling and assessment.

Within TU Delft, the candidate will join a multidisciplinary team working on comfort modelling and evaluation.

Job requirements

We are looking for participants with the best match to the above requirements, but not explicitly requiring all of them.

• Experience in designing, conducting, and analysing human-subject experiments involving diverse participant groups.
• Ability to analyse physiological signals including skin temperature, skin conductance, heart rate, and wearable sensor data.
• Experience developing and validating advanced thermal comfort metrics using multimodal physiological, environmental, and subjective assessment, targeting high prediction accuracy in dynamic driving simulator and real-world operating conditions.
• Ability to design and implement machine learning algorithms for real-time prediction of occupant thermal comfort.
• Experience integrating thermal comfort models into vehicle climate control systems for adaptive heating, cooling, and ventilation strategies.
• Ability to collaborate with academic and industrial partners on system integration, validation, and dissemination activities.
• Ability to publish research findings in leading scientific journals and present results at international conferences.

TU Delft

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

At TU Delft, people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, staff provide high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.

Working at TU Delft means joining an international community of professionals and students. Together, they create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Mechanical Engineering

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It is a large and versatile faculty where unique connections can often be made by combining different disciplines.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years temporary.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.