Postdoctoral Fellow, Benchmarking Occupant Egress Movement in Buildings

Automotive and Surface Transportation; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 83,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization in Canada is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to study occupant egress movement in buildings. This role involves empirical data collection and analysis, with a focus on generating benchmark values in the context of Canada's transitioning building codes. The position offers a hybrid work arrangement and competitive salary, with opportunities for collaboration and career growth.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive health and dental coverage

Robust pension plan

Access to a travel fund

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Psychology, Data Science, or Engineering required.
• Experience in data collection with human subjects is necessary.
• Some experience in analyzing human movement studies preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify and fill knowledge gaps regarding occupant movement.
• Generate datasets with benchmark values for occupant movement in Canada.
• Conduct empirical research and analysis pertinent to evacuation scenarios.

Skills

Empirical data collection

Data analysis

Human movement studies

Virtual Reality applications

Education

Ph.D. in relevant fields

Job description

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Postdoctoral Fellow, Benchmarking Occupant Egress Movement in Buildings

Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

* The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

OrganizationalUnit:Construction

Classification:RO

Duration: 2 years

Work arrangements:Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement (combination of working onsite and telework). Employees in this position who telework will be required to travel to the designated work site at least three times per week or a minimum of 60% of their regular work schedule at their own expense.

At the NRC, we recognize that Indigenous candidates may have important connections to their communities and you may be eligible for an exception to this work arrangement. Alternative work arrangements may also be considered to accommodate candidates as required. To learn more about these options, please contact the NRC Hiring team using the contact information below.

The program

The NRC’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program offers PDFs access to unique world‑class facilities and the opportunity to work alongside multi‑disciplinary teams of expert researchers and technicians on projects of critical importance to Canada. PDFs will carry out research on innovative research projects, with opportunities for career development (publications and/or industry interaction).

PDFs will be offered appointments to the staff of the National Research Council on a term basis and will be offered salaries and benefits currently available to Research Officers. Salaries commensurate with experience are taxable and subject to other deductions. As a guide, the current annual PhD recruiting rate is $83,985. In addition PDFs will be allocated a travel fund to support their work.

Benchmarking Occupant Egress Movement to Support Canada's Transition to Performance‑Based Building Codes

The role

Canada's built environment and population are changing, with demographic trends like aging populations altering occupant characteristics compared to previous decades. In addition, evaluations of potential changes to the National Building Code (NBC) require analysis grounded in representative, accurate and up‑to‑date benchmark values. However, there is a lack of such benchmark values including anthropomorphic data and occupant movement characteristics needed for performance‑based evacuation analysis.

The postdoctoral researcher will identify and fill knowledge and data gaps regarding occupant movement (e.g., horizontal and vertical movement speeds) for a range of occupant characteristics (e.g., different age groups, mobility impaired) and occupancy types (e.g., residential, mixed‑use), and situations that can occur during an evacuation. To this end, the postdoctoral research will work towards generating datasets with representative benchmark values on occupant movement in the Canadian context.

Education

Ph.D. in fields relevant to the research subject, including but not limited to Psychology/Cognitive Science, Data Science, Engineering (e.g., Fire Safety, Traffic, Human Factors, Mechanical), or Kinesiology.

Experience of empirical data collection and analysis with human participants, e.g. using common data science programming languages.

Some experience in human movement studies.

Experience in Virtual Reality applications would be an asset.

Reliability Status
For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.

Who is eligible?

• Fellowships will be for two years contingent on satisfactory progress achieved during the first year.
• Candidates should have obtained a PhD (or equivalent) within the past three years (PhD received on or after July 1, 2023) or expect to complete their PhD within 6 months of appointment.
• Fellows will work in a lab under the direct supervision of an NRC researcher.

*Exceptions may be considered to recognize personal or family related leave. Please connect with us using the contact information below to discuss in more detail.

Application requirements

To be considered for the program please include the following in your application, please note that you will need to attach the required documents as per the list below when submitting your application. Failure to do so will result in your application being excluded.

• Resume
• Statement of Interest in the project (maximum one page in length)
• PhD Transcript - an electronic copy is sufficient, it does not have to be an official version.
• List of Publications

When submitting your application you can include the required documents in any attachment field such as «Second language evaluation results» or «Other attachments»

In addition, applicants who best meet the requirements of the position will be asked to provide three letters of recommendation at a later stage of the competition process.

Compensation

The intent of this hiring action is to staff the position at the AsRO level, which is an early‑career level position with a salary range of $83,985 to $116,641. This wide range accounts for varying degrees of expertise and impact, and growth within the role.

Salary determination will be based on a thorough evaluation of the successful candidate's prior experience. This evaluation will consider specific achievements, skills, and contributions that demonstrate the candidate's impact and expertise. As a guide, the average starting rate for new PhD graduates entering this role is $83,985.

The NRC is committed to supporting career progression within the organization, providing access to the opportunities and resources needed for a pathway to a fulfilling career. NRC employees also enjoy a wide‑range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well‑being throughout your career and beyond.

Discover the possible

Anything is possible at the NRC, named in 2025 one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers!

As Canada’s leading research and technology organization, our world‑renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.

At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground‑breaking discoveries to a life‑changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

Notes

• In 2025, the NRC has been chosen as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, the National Capital Region’s Top Employers and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers.
• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• Fellowships are open to nationals of all countries, although preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Please direct your questions, with the requisition number (24497) to:

Closing Date: 19 December 2025 - 23:59 Eastern Time

*If you are currently a term or continuing employee at NRC, please apply through the SuccessFactors Careersmodule from your NRC computer.