Senior Research Fellow – Sustainability Assessment of Net-Zero Carbon Technology Options (104173 - 0721)

Vacancy Type/Job category
Research Only
Department
WMG
Salary
£41,526 - £49,553 per annum
Location
University of Warwick - Coventry
Vacancy Overview
Fixed Term Contract - March 2023
36.5 hours per week
An individual with a burning passion for net-zero carbon research with capabilities that integrates relational quantitative and qualitative insights is sought to explore technology intervention options including renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency towards the decarbonisation of the UK manufacturing sector. You will join the Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Group, WMG to work on the sustainability assessment of net-zero carbon options in the context of the UK manufacturing sector.
You will work alongside researchers in the Computational Sustainability Research Group (CSRG), WMG as part of the overall efforts in developing a decision support system (DSS) for UK manufacturing. By integrating social, economic and environmental impacts into a single framework, the proposed DSS will provide an ordered ranking of net-zero options for the CO2 emissions mitigation within a manufacturing sector. The tool developed will be used to identify and communicate trade-offs between various technology options to aid decisions that are informed both by environmental and financial considerations.
You will have proven research experience and well developed communication and collaboration skills to provide the interface between stakeholders, researchers and the project management team. You will assist the project team in the successful execution of the project.
You will have a good honours degree (2.1 or higher) and a Ph.D. in a related discipline. Experience in life cycle assessment, including familiarity with software used for this process (such as GaBi, SimaPro, openLCA) is essential for this post.
We will provide a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays and Christmas closure, some fantastic savings on a wide range of products and services, and excellent learning and development opportunities.
At WMG, we are committed to supporting staff to achieve their potential. We currently hold the Athena SWAN Silver Award and the University of Warwick holds an Institutional Silver Award: a national initiative that recognises the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression and success for all in academia. We are supportive of staff with caring responsibilities including a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities. We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so.
Interview Date - TBC
Job Description
JOB PURPOSE
DSS4UKM Project
You will undertake research and manage/co-ordinate project activity in order to support the work of the Department, develop, and enhance its reputation, both internal and external to the University. You will assist the Principal Investigator and, where appropriate, project collaborators in the successful execution of the project. Specifically, you will work on the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult-funded DSS4UKM Project, assessing the sustainability across the whole life cycle of a range of renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency options towards net-zero in a UK manufacturing sector. There is some flexibility in the areas of specialism sought. However, it is expected that the successful candidate will:
(i) have a strong understanding of life cycle assessment methodologies and be familiar with software used to conduct assessments;
(ii) understand the complexity surrounding the consideration of specific net-zero carbon options;
(iii) possess current knowledge of UK and EU policies pertaining to the net-zero carbon agenda,
(iv) possess experience in engaging with industrial partners as part of a collaborative project.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES
Research
1) To establish a sound research base within the Department to pursue individual and collaborative research of high quality consistent with making a full active research contribution to the Department in line with its research strategy.
2) To secure, in collaboration with colleagues as appropriate, external funding through research grants or contracts to support a developing research agenda.
3) To manage research projects within the University, which includes supervising research students, technical and other support staff engaged in research.
4) To consider the value of research achievements within their potential commercial context and where appropriate and with the assistance of the Research Support Services, take appropriate action to protect such research results by patent application or copyright to the potential benefit of the University.
5) Where appropriate and expedient, to secure contract work to the benefit of (your) research activity and to provide resources to underpin this activity.
6) To publish research outcomes in appropriate journals of international standing and to publish and disseminate the result of research and scholarship in other reputable outlets.
7) To identify and explore with the Department and the University any entrepreneurial opportunities which may arise and to ensure that intellectual property rights are protected for the benefit of the University and the researcher.
8) To attend and present research findings and papers at academic and professional conferences, and to contribute to the external visibility of the department.
9) To contribute to the research plans developed by the Department, including providing such information as may be required by the Department to monitor the progress of each member of staff’s research programme and to support the Department fully in the preparation of material required for the REF or similar activities.
10) To help draft research reports for the Principal Investigator.
Administration and Other Activities
11) To undertake such specific departmental roles and management functions as may be reasonably required by the Head of Department.
12) To attend departmental meetings and to participate (where necessary) in other committees and working groups within the department, the faculty and the University.
13) To participate in relevant professional activities.
14) To engage in continuous professional development.
15) To undertake external commitments, which reflects well and enhance the reputation of the University.
16) To ensure compliance with health and safety in all aspects of work.
The duties and responsibilities outlined are not intended to be an exhaustive list but provide guidance on the main aspects of the job. The postholder will be required to be flexible in their duties.
For informal enquiries about this position contact Dr Stuart Coles ([email protected]) or Dr Taofeeq Ibn-Mohammed ([email protected]).

Person Specification

The Person Specification focuses on the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications required to undertake the role effectively. This is measured by (a) Application Form, (b) Test/Exercise, (c) Interview, (d) Presentation.

Essential Criteria 1
Good honours degree and possession of a PhD or equivalent in relevant discipline (a)
Essential Criteria 2
Experience in developing life cycle assessment models (a) (c) (d)
Essential Criteria 3
Knowledge of available and emerging life cycle assessment techniques (a) (c) (d)
Essential Criteria 4
Proven ability in research and evidence of quality research outputs in relevant field(s) (a) (c) (d)
Essential Criteria 5
A developing research profile with the ability to publish and/or produce high quality research outputs (a) (c) (d)
Essential Criteria 6
Ability or potential to contribute to the development of funding proposals in order to generate external funding to support research projects. (a) (c)
Essential Criteria 7
An understanding of equal opportunity issues as they may impact on areas of research content (a) (c)
Essential Criteria 8
Good effective communication (oral and written) skills, presentation and training skills (a) (c) (d)
Essential Criteria 9
Good interpersonal skills (a) (c)
Essential Criteria 10
Ability and willingness to work as a member of a team and contribute positively to a collegial team environment and to be able to work independently. (a) (c)
Essential Criteria 11
Ability to initiate, plan organise, implement and deliver programmes of work to tight deadlines (a) (c)
Desirable Criteria 1
Experience of working on research projects with industrial partners (a) (c)
Desirable Criteria 2
Ability to write research reports and papers in styles accessible to both academic and, where relevant, industry audiences (a) (c)
Desirable Criteria 3
Experience of coding using appropriate languages such as C/C++, Python, Java etc. (a) (c)
Further Particulars
For further information about the University of Warwick, please read our University Further Particulars .
For further information about the department, please visit the departmental website .
Right to work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/ or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK points-based immigration system please click on this link which contains further information about obtaining right to work in the UK and details about eligibility for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa.
The University of Warwick provides an inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting every individual’s differences. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010.

Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy

As an organisation using the (DBS) Disclosure and Barring Service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, the University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed. More information is available on the University’s Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.

Closing Date
8 Aug 2021