Enhancing the performance of European bio-based facades

The PhD project aims at widening the use of biobased facades in Europe. Despite the appealing sustainable feature brought by biobased facades, several challenges refrain their widespread use. First, the critical design of an effective combination of biobased insulation and cladding that meet mechanical, thermal and acoustic requirements for an optimal energy efficiency and low environmental impact of the building. Second, defining green strategies to improve the poor fire performances of lignocellulosic materials. Finally, ensuring the durability of the biobased facade when exposed to environmental factors (water, UV, bioorganisms…), including weathering and leaching of fire-retardants.

The Young Researcher (YR) training program will review the actual configurations of biobased facades in Europe, and their limitations. Building on this knowledge, the YR will suggest two innovative designs of biobased facades (insulation, cladding, treatment/coatings), taking into account energy efficiency, use of local resources (preferably by-products or waste from agriculture and forestry) with decisions supported by LCA. Training will include various testing (mechanical, thermal, acoustic, fire), taking advantage of ZAG’s departments complementarity. The transformation of wastes into higher value products will create new value chains, foster circular economy, and unlocking the use of biobased facades will reduce the buildings’ environmental impact.

https://www.zag.si/en/hiring/call-for-young-researchers-stem/

ZAG is a public non-profit research institute and the leading institute in the field of civil engineering in Slovenia. The institute was founded in 1949 and gathers 270 employees in 2025. ZAG is decomposed in 6 departments: Materials, Building Physics, Structures, Geotechnics and Infrastructure, Metrology, and Fire-safe Sustainable Built Environment. The PhD will take place in the Fire-safe Sustainable Built Environment, in collaboration with other departments. 

The conditions for a young researcher are that:

- he/she has not completed a doctorate of science or obtained the scientific title of doctor of science,

- he/she has an education achieved after a second-cycle study program in an appropriate technical or natural science field,

- he/she has not yet been employed as a young researcher,

- no more than 4 years have passed since the completion of his/her studies and that

- he/she meets the conditions for enrollment in a doctoral study program.