"Research Fellow (Intelligent Carbon Management)"

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of the Built Environment (DBE) invites applications for a full-time Research Fellow to drive R&D in carbon management and optimization within the built environment. The successful candidate will lead the development of an activity-level carbon calculation methodology and digital tool that automatically tracks emissions across project lifecycle, integrating data science, ontologies/knowledge graphs, and carbon accounting. The Research Fellow will help develop and lead the CognitionX Lab (https://cognitionx-lab.github.io/) with Dr. Jinying Xu, Assistant Professor and Director of the Cognition X Lab, contributing to a high-impact research agenda and industry collaborations.

Key Responsibilities

• Tool and methodology development
  • Design and implement a scalable activity-level carbon calculation tool, including data ingestion, estimation algorithms, and automated reporting.
  • Build and maintain ontologies/knowledge graphs mapping activities, materials, equipment, emission factors, and data provenance.
  • Develop data pipelines integrating BIM/IFC, schedules (4D), IoT/telemetry, procurement/ERP, and emissions factor databases.
• Analytics and optimization
  • Apply data science, uncertainty quantification, and optimization/operations research to evaluate and recommend carbon reduction strategies under cost, schedule, and quality constraints.
  • Create decision-support dashboards and audit-ready logs aligned with recognised standards (e.g., GHG Protocol, ISO 14064/14067, PAS 2080, ISO/EN LCA standards).
• Research outputs and impact
  • Publish in leading journals and conferences; prepare technical reports, software documentation, and open science artefacts where permissible.
  • Contribute to grant proposals, project scoping, and delivery of milestones; present findings to academic and practitioner audiences.
• Lab development and leadership
  • Co-develop the Cognition X Lab’s technical roadmap and research priorities with Dr. Jinying Xu.
  • Lead day-to-day project management, mentor junior researchers/students, and ensure rigorous R&D practices.
  • Establish collaborations with internal and external stakeholders (industry partners, agencies, other labs).

What We Offer

• Access to computing resources, datasets, and industry case studies
• Support for professional development, conferences, and dissemination (subject to funding)
• Opportunity to help build and lead a new lab with a clear decarbonisation mission

Application Materials

Please submit the following as a single PDF in the application system by 20 December, 2025:

• Cover letter (max 2 pages) detailing fit, R&D experience, and vision for the Cognition X Lab’s cognition for carbon mitigation and research agenda
• CV (including publications and software/projects) and academic transcripts
• Two representative work samples (e.g., journal paper, code repository, technical report, ontology/graph model)
• 4 Reference letters, including one from candidate’s PhD supervisor
• PhD/Master/Bachelor degree certificate

Evaluation Criteria

• Depth and originality of R&D contributions
• Technical fit (data science, ontology/knowledge graph, carbon accounting, optimization)
• Leadership and collaboration potential for lab development
• Communication and project management skills

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews.

NUS is committed to a diverse and inclusive research environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.