Job Description
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 ( 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 optimizationApply 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 impactPublish 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 leadershipCo-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 studiesSupport for professional development, conferences, and dissemination (subject to funding)Opportunity to help build and lead a new lab with a clear decarbonisation missionApplication 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 agendaCV (including publications and software / projects) and academic transcriptsTwo representative work samples (e.g., journal paper, code repository, technical report, ontology / graph model)4 Reference letters, including one from candidate's PhD supervisorPhD / Master / Bachelor degree certificateEvaluation Criteria
Depth and originality of R&D contributionsTechnical fit (data science, ontology / knowledge graph, carbon accounting, optimization)Leadership and collaboration potential for lab developmentCommunication and project management skillsShortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews.
NUS is committed to a diverse and inclusive research environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.
Note : If you plan to align the tool with specific standards, datasets, or industry partner requirements, share those details and we can further tailor the scope, deliverables, and evaluation metrics.
Job Requirements
Minimum Qualifications
PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Civil / Construction Engineering, Built Environment, Industrial / Systems Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Computer / Data Science, Operations Research).Demonstrated research and development capabilities, evidenced by high-quality publications, software / tools, or impactful projects.Strong proficiency in data science and programming (Python preferred; experience with pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn; SQL).Practical experience with ontologies / knowledge graphs (RDF / OWL, SHACL, SPARQL) and at least one graph database (e.g., Neo4j, GraphDB).Solid understanding of carbon calculation / accounting and LCA concepts (scope definitions, boundaries, emission factors, allocation, uncertainty).Excellent communication skills and ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and industry collaborations.Preferred Qualifications
Experiences in getting grants and writing grant proposals.Experiences in (co-)supervising students.Integration experience with BIM / IFC, project scheduling tools (e.g., Primavera / MS Project), and construction process data.Optimization expertise (linear / mixed-integer programming, stochastic optimization) and familiarity with simulation or decision analytics.Experience with cloud / data engineering (APIs, ETL, data quality), dashboarding (Power BI / Tableau), and software engineering (version control, testing, CI / CD).Knowledge of emissions databases (e.g., ecoinvent), EPDs, and international standards-aligned workflows; familiarity with Singapore's built environment context.More Information
Location : Kent Ridge CampusOrganization : College of Design and EngineeringDepartment : The Built EnvironmentEmployee Referral Eligible : NoJob requisition ID : 31002#J-18808-Ljbffr
