Assistant Professor in Energy Economics (Research Fellow in Hydrogen (ECON_01)

Working at Durham University  

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Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Durham? information page.  

The Department 

The Department of Economics is part of the triple-accredited Business School. Research is broad ranging and far-reaching and includes economic growth and policy; behavioural economics; quantitative research in financial economics; and environmental and energy economics. The Department has a strong culture of collaboration and arrange external and internal research seminar series, conferences and PhD student workshops. It also has strong links with a wide range of businesses and government institutions including the Bank of England, Federal Reserve Bank, UK Trade & Investment, BIS and the UK parliament. Support is offered to academic colleagues in publishing research in world-class journals, with a focus on quality rather than quantity. Our support for research includes resources for conference travel, seed corn funding of research activity, a generous research leave policy, and a designated mentor. More details about our research, teaching, and business connections can be found on our website; 

https://www.durham.ac.uk/business/about/departments/economics/ 

The Department of Economics at Durham University seeks to appoint an Assistant Professor in Energy Economics (Research Fellow in Hydrogen Innovation) position and would welcome applications from those with experience and expertise in energy economics and/or computational economics. Knowledge of hydrogen development will be welcome. This post offers an exciting opportunity to make an important contribution to the development of the Department of Economics research while allowing you excellent opportunities to develop your career in an exciting and progressive institution.

Assistant Professors (Research) at Durham

The Assistant Professor (Research) - Research Fellow in Hydrogen Innovation position is funded jointly by Research England and Durham University to work with industrial partners within the Teesside Industrial Cluster to support the development of Teesside’s Hydrogen Economy and Catalyse a Just Transition to Net Zero.

The overall project is led by Professor Tony Roskilly who leads a large Energy Systems Group in the Department of Engineering, including academic, post-doctoral research staff, administration, and technical personnel. Several researchers from Anthropology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Biological Science and Durham University Business School also support the Group’s collaborative research activities directly. The group has a successful track record of attracting funding, primarily from Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Innovate UK, EU and industry. Professor Roskilly is the Academic Lead for the Teesside Industrial Cluster and is working closely with Teesside University on a ground-breaking project to accelerate decarbonisation and the use of hydrogen through supporting industrial research and development and capacity building in the Tees Valley. Researchers from both universities will harness their complementary strengths in the ambitious four-year project, Growing Teesside’s Hydrogen Economy and Catalysing a Just Transition to Net Zero. The £11m project is led by Teesside University and funded from the Research England Development (RED) Fund, part of UK Research and Innovation, as well as funding from Teesside University, Durham University, and industrial partners. This new joint project will bring together a large cohort of industrial and policy research fellows who will work together with industrial partners to identify challenges and develop innovative solutions to overcome them. Examples of challenges include fuel switching to hydrogen for high-grade heating, the use of hydrogen in flexible and resilient power systems, hydrogen fuelled heavy-duty transportation, community engagement, regimes of knowledge around hydrogen, long-term histories of change and temporal horizons of energy development.

The successful candidate is expected to be an independent researcher, and to carry out high quality work closely with academic colleagues and industrial partners. They will be able to contribute to several research projects and will be responsible for them being successfully delivered on time, within budget and meeting all objectives. The successful candidate will work closely with Prof. Laura Marsiliani who is part of the overall project team. The core of the research will address the social (broadly defined) issues related to the development of a hydrogen economy on Teesside, will entail engagement with relevant actors both to shape the research questions and for empirical research, leading to peer-reviewed publications.  

This role aligns to Durham University’s research track for academic positions. 

The University is committed to enabling all of our colleagues to achieve their full potential. We promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment to ensure that all colleagues can thrive.  Academic colleagues are supported to publish world-class research in their area of interest with a focus on quality in high impact journals, rather than quantity. We will fully support your research needs including practical help, such as resources to attend conferences and to fund research activity, as well as a generous research leave policy and a designated mentor.

All of our Assistant Professors (Research) are encouraged to focus on research but also to engage in wider citizenship to enhance their own development, to support their department and wider discipline.

Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in the field of energy research and knowledge of relevant analytical techniques (e.g. mathematical modelling, programming, data analysis), with the ability to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University.  The University provides a working, research and teaching environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process.

Key responsibilities: 

• To undertake advanced research in the relevant discipline area, using or developing appropriate methods and/or techniques in collaboration with external partners and commensurate with the Department’s continuing emphasis on international excellence. 

• To play a significant role in the delivery of a portfolio of collaborative research projects relating to innovation in the hydrogen economy. This will include working with partners from industry, the public sector and the third sector, as appropriate to the projects. 

• To engage in networks relevant for future collaboration and funding opportunities across the agreed project research domains, developing clear plans for the pursuit of suitable national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagements. 

• To develop proposals for research projects which will make a significant impact by leading to an increase in knowledge and understanding and the discovery or development of new explanations, insights, concepts, processes related to hydrogen. 

• To work closely with the external partners involved in each research project, including spending time working at partner sites as required. 

• To write up results of research work, present information on research progress and outcomes to internal and external partners in a clear and accurate manner. 

• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the project team and offer creative or innovative solutions.  

• To demonstrate a willingness to contribute to the administrative world, citizenship and values of the Department. 

• To fully engage in and enhance the values of the Department. 

• To carry out such other duties as specified by the Head of the Department. 

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion 

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities and people from racially minoritised ethnic groups.

If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Person Specification  

Candidates applying will have completed their PhD and they must outline their experience, skills and achievements to date which demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria.

Research  

Candidates must have the capacity for and be progressing towards the independent development of internationally excellent research that produces high-quality outcomes, including some work that is recognised as world-class or that has world-class potential.   

Essential Research Criteria – Grade 7 

Service, Citizenship and Values 

This post is focused on research but candidates will be expected to actively engage in the administrative requirements of the Department, notably related to their research, and/or the research and research environment of the department.

Candidates must positively contribute to fostering a collegial environment; as well as demonstrating their commitment to equality diversity and inclusion.

Essential Service, Citizenship and Values criteria – Grade 7 

Desirable Criteria – Grade 7 

The desirable criteria for this post (for which candidates should provide evidence of some if not all criteria) are:

A. Research proposal development - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to develop successful research project proposals.

B. PhD supervision - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to provide excellent supervision for PhD students.

C. Research Leadership - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to contribute to the leadership of research groups and the mentoring of early career researchers.  Candidates may choose to include information about research group leadership, mentoring of research colleagues, invitations to and engagement with external events, and/or involvement with international networks or projects.

D. Research Impact – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to evidence research impact beyond the institution.

E. Leadership - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to engage in the administrative functioning of the candidate’s academic department and/or discipline including any leadership or other responsibilities in an academic/research context.

Contact Information 

Department contact for academic-related enquiries 

Professor Laura Marsiliani ([email protected]).  All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence. 

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application 

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email.  Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to [email protected]  

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time.  We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).  

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process 

How to Apply  

We prefer to receive applications online.    

Please note that in submitting your application, we will be processing your data.  We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/  which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.  

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system, please get in touch with us on [email protected] .  

What to Submit 

All applicants are asked to submit: 

• A CV  (maximum 4 pages including most recent publications)
• A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above;  (maximum 4 pages with explicit examples). 
• Personal research plan. 
• Up to two of your most significant research publications where possible published since January 2020, however previous work may be submitted where candidates have had career breaks. Early career applicants may wish to submit working papers or chapters of their thesis in absence of publications,
• An EDI & values statement – (of no more than 500 words) which outlines work which you have been involved in which demonstrates your commitment to EDI and our values. I.e. Involvement in quality, diversity, and inclusion activities such as mentoring, volunteering, or attending conferences 

Where possible we request that you provide accessible web links to your publications, which the hiring Department will use to access your work.  The application form contains fields in which to enter each of the web links. Please note we are unable to access publications behind a paywall.   

Your work should be uploaded as PDFs as part of your application in our recruitment system. Please ensure that your PDFs are not larger than 5mb. Please note that your work may be read by colleagues from across the Department and evaluated against the current REF criteria; 

Please save all application documents with your name and document type as PDF files. 

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.  

Referees 

You should provide 3 academic referees they should not (if possible) include your PhD supervisor(s).  The majority should be from a University other than your own (save for early career applicants applying for their first post). 

References will be requested for candidates who have been shortlisted and will be made available to the panel during the interview process. 

As part of your application, you will be asked whether you give your consent to your academic references being sought should you be invited to attend an interview. We will only request references where permission has been granted.  

Next Steps 

All applications will be considered; our usual practice is for colleagues across the Department to read the submitted work of long-listed candidates.   

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department.  The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation to staff and students in the Department followed by an interview and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place around January 2024.

In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date. 

Applicant Guidance  

For further guidance on your application please see HERE