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PhD Student
Fully Funded Ph.D. Position in Indoor Air Quality Full-time NEW
The Indoor Air Lab led by Dr. Jialei Shen at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is seeking a highly motivated Ph.D. student to join the group, beginning Fall 2026.
The student will work on multiple projects funded by NIH, International Energy Agency, and foundations focusing on indoor air quality and environmental health. The student will conduct both lab experiments and field measurements to characterize aerosols, VOCs, and other air pollutants, as well as different air cleaning technologies. Specifically, the student will: (1) test low-cost air quality sensors using environmental chamber experiments; (2) measure indoor air pollutants (aerosols, VOCs, mold), perform air cleaning interventions, and analyze health outcomes from biological samples in underserved communities; and (3) develop and test MOF materials for removing formaldehyde and other VOCs using environmental chamber experiments.
Qualifications:
- Candidates must hold a master’s degree in environmental engineering, environmental science, chemical engineering, chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, environmental health sciences, industrial hygiene, or a related field.
- Exceptional candidates with an undergraduate degree in a relevant field may be considered.
- Previous experience with environmental chamber experiments, chromatography, mass spectrometry, or aerosol measurements is preferred.
- Experience with scientific publications is preferred.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Application Documents:
- CV
- A letter describing the candidate’s qualifications, research experience, and research interests (max. 2 pages).
- A sample of technical writing (e.g. journal publication, thesis, research report, or course project).
- A copy of unofficial transcripts.
- TOFEL/IELTS test results (if applicable).
Interested candidates could reach out to Dr. Jialei Shen via email for more information. To apply, please combine the application documents into a single PDF file and send it to Dr. Jialei Shen via email (shenj[at]uab[dot]edu) with the subject line “Fall 2026 PhD Inquiry”.
About PI:
Dr. Jialei Shen is an Assistant Professor in Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at UAB, with a joint appointment in Environmental Health Sciences. Before joining UAB, Dr. Shen worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and earned his PhD degree at Syracuse University. Dr. Shen’s research focuses on indoor air quality, building systems, and healthy buildings, with expertise spanning air pollutant monitoring, exposure assessment, low-cost sensor evaluation, air-cleaning technologies, and building performance modeling. He has participated in projects funded by NIH, DOE, NIST, ASHRAE, IEA, foundations, and industrial partners. At UAB, Dr. Shen leads a project on low-cost air quality sensors (Halton Foundation), and a project on studying IAQ interventions on cancer risks (NIH U54 UAB CARES Center). He also engages in international collaborations advancing energy-efficient IAQ control strategies (International Energy Agency, IEA).
About UAB:
UAB is a leading R1 research university and academic health center located in Birmingham, Alabama—the state’s largest metropolitan area—situated in the heart of the southern United States and within easy reach of Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, the Gulf Coast, and the Smoky Mountains. UAB consistently ranks among the top institutions in federal research funding, particularly from the NIH. It is ranked #132 among national universities and #170 globally by U.S. News & World Report. UAB offers outstanding opportunities for research, industry collaboration, and projects with global impact.