Postdoctoral Research Associate, Built Environment Research Group

Job overview

The Postdoctoral Research Associate, Built Environment Research Group role is onsite in Chicago, IL, with office, laboratory, and field work. Compensation is $70,000–$75,000 per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications. The role supports Illinois Tech’s Built Environment Research Group in evaluating building protection strategies against indoor exposure to outdoor aerosol hazards. The researcher combines chamber experiments, field measurements, and physics-based modeling to assess how building and system conditions affect particle exposure, energy use, comfort, and reliable protective operation. The work contributes to reproducible research and practical guidance through analysis, publications, presentations, and collaboration with investigators and student researchers.

What you'll do

• Plan and conduct chamber experiments
• measure and analyze particle concentrations, pressure, airflow, weather, thermal conditions, and power use
• design and execute field studies in test homes and residences
• estimate air-change, particle-penetration, infiltration, and removal rates
• develop and validate airflow models using CONTAM or comparable tools
• maintain research data, code, records, protocols, and quality-control documentation
• prepare manuscripts, reports, presentations, sponsor updates, and public guidance
• coordinate with investigators and collaborators and mentor student researchers.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

senior research associate

postdoctoral research associate

built environment research group

aerosol science

indoor air quality

building airflow

field studies

chamber experiments

contam

chicago il

illinois institute of technology

$70k–$75k per year

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Benefits & perks

• Eligible employees may receive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• life and long-term disability insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with university contributions and matching
• tuition assistance
• flexible spending and commuter benefits
• employee assistance program
• university holidays
• and applicable paid and job-protected leave.

Why this role

Interdisciplinary research combines controlled-chamber experiments, field studies, and airflow modeling to evaluate improvised building protection strategies.

About the employer

Illinois Institute of Technology is hiring for this role. Industry: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools. Sector: 61.