Research Associate (607179)

Salary range: £36,024 - £44,263

FTE: 1

Term: Fixed (36 months)

Closing Date: 01 May 2024

We seek to appoint a Research Associate to join a major new Horizon Europe funded project “Bridging current knowledge gaps to enable the UPTAKE of carbon dioxide removal methods”. UPTAKE aims to develop resilient carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies based on strengthened scientific evidence on the social, technological, economic, and environmental characteristics of CDR technologies and their interplay. The UPTAKE consortium is coordinated by Fondazione Centro Euro-Mediterraneo Sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC) and brings together 21 partners with well-established and world-leading expertise in CDR technology assessment, integrated assessment modelling, social science methods, and climate policy and governance issues. Strathclyde’s role is in the techno-economic assessment of CO2 geological storage (Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS) as used by DACCS and BECCS CDR methods. The project presents an exciting opportunity to carry out, publish and communicate important, timely, collaborative, and globally relevant research.

As a Research Associate you will develop research objectives and proposals, play a key role in the UPTAKE project, and conduct individual and collaborative research. You will write up research work for publication and disseminate the results via peer reviewed journal publications, presentation at conferences, and other engagement approaches. You will participate in external networks to share information and ideas, and collaborate with colleagues on the development of knowledge exchange activities by, for example, participating in initiatives which establish research links with industry and influence public policy and the professions. You will contribute in a developing capacity to Department supervision, teaching, administrative and management functions and committees and engage in continuous professional development.

To be considered for the role, you must have a PhD in an area relevant to subsurface management and technology scale-up and climate mitigation assessment, or have significant relevant experience in addition to a relevant degree. You will have sufficient breadth or depth of knowledge in geological storage of CO2, subsurface engineering and basin modelling, understanding of development of industrial clusters and hubs for CCS, awareness of non-technical requirements for deployment of CCS at scale.
Experience and confidence with collaborative working approaches, and working with and influencing stakeholders is highly desirable. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to listen, engage and persuade, and to present complex information in an accessible way to a range of audiences. Ability to write for, and present at conferences, and deliver research suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals is essential, as is the ability to deliver clear and high-impact policy and public facing outcomes.

You will have knowledge of appropriate research methods have an ability to plan and prioritise your own workload with general supervision, and you will have an ability to work within a team environment. You should be self-motivated, well-organised, and be able to work independently to meet deadlines.

Applications are welcomed from candidates with relevant work experience, membership of relevant Chartered/professional bodies, experience of relevant student supervision and teaching activities, and/or experience of knowledge exchange related activities.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment known for its friendly and supportive research culture. In 2022 we became the first UK Engineering Department to receive an Athena Swan Gold award for gender equality. A signatory of the Researcher Development Concordat, the University of Strathclyde is strongly committed to supporting the professional and career development of our Researchers.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, jen.roberts@strath.ac.uk