Research Fellow (Sustainability and Climate Action) – Knowledge, Business, Policy and Impact

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £34,980 to £44,263, with potential progression once in post to £46,974.

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract up to July 2028

Background

The Birmingham Institute for Sustainability & Climate Action (BISCA) facilitates and delivers world-leading, transdisciplinary research on sustainability and fosters climate action for the research community, decision makers, and wider society – leading to better livelihoods and a more sustainable environment in a rapidly changing world.  

BISCA is looking to recruit two Research Fellows in Sustainability and Climate Action – Knowledge, Business, Policy and Impact. These posts are critical to the delivery and success of the Institute’s ambitious goals, in close alignment with the Birmingham 2030 Strategic Framework’s imbedded Sustainability ambitions.  

Our approach is anchored in a commitment to interdisciplinary research and its application to real-world challenges to unlock barriers and enable impactful change. This is an exciting opportunity to join BISCA in a role that will bring together cutting-edge research with policy and industry engagement to advance the agenda of sustainability and climate action.

We anticipate recruiting complementary skills with one post likely to have a STEM background and the other a social sciences/art and humanities background. Together, the Research Fellows will act as a talent pool to facilitate response to rapidly emerging short-term, strategically high-value opportunities - providing capacity to deliver higher risk-reward research, bid writing and translation of research into action through collaboration.

The roles will enable the postholders to further their academic career through working closely with industry partners, policy makers and lead academics to develop projects, write bids, and help coordinate research efforts with impact. The postholders will engage in developing and leading in research projects focussing on the core BISCA themes which include security and resilience, adaptation, critical infrastructure, inequality and social justice.

Main Duties

• Collaborate with the BISCA leadership team to foster world-class, transdisciplinary research on climate change and sustainability, contributing to REF28 objectives.
• Co-create innovative research questions and solutions in partnership with stakeholders at local and global levels.
• Identify and respond to sustainability-related external opportunities, coordinating research efforts and supporting bid writing.
• Increase the visibility of UoB’s sustainability research to multiple audiences.
• Support the development and implementation of business-facing and advisory services addressing Sustainable Development Goals to maximize external impact.
• Propose, plan, and execute research, knowledge and technology transfer projects primarily under the BISCA banner.

Person Specification:

• Normally, a higher degree relevant to the research area (normally PhD or near to completion) or equivalent qualification.
• Relevant experience in Sustainability and/or Climate Change research.
• Significant knowledge of relevant aspects of sustainability and climate policies in the UK and internationally.
• Research and/or technology transfer experience and scholarship within subject specialism.

For informal enquiries please contact: Professor David Hannah, d.m.hannah@bham.ac.uk, Dr Helen Onyeaka h.onyeaka@bham.ac.uk, or Dr Liza Jabbour l.jabbour@bham.ac.uk.

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the Apply button above

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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