Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Design for the Circular Economy

Central Oxford

We are seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join the Circular Economy and Sustainability Lab at the Department of Engineering Science (central Oxford).  The post is funded by UKRI and is fixed-term to 29 June 2028 with the possibility of an extension. 

The Research Assistant will join the Circular Electrical and Electronics Programme, which was established in 2024 and is funded by Dr Lucia Corsini’s UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (£1.56m), on “Tackling Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment” in order to develop systems and engineering design solutions to enable a Circular Economy for Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE). 

We are supported by over 24 national and international partners that represent stakeholders from across the EEE value chain, including brands, producers, retailers, waste management services, compliances schemes, trade associates, local authority and policy makers, technology and waste tracking companies, waste non-profit organisations and eco-design consultancies. 

Together, we seek to enable a low-carbon Circular Economy for EEE in the UK that reduces the mining of rare, expensive and critical minerals. The long-term vision is to make the UK the first country in the world to eliminate WEEE through effective reduce, reuse, repair, remanufacturing, recycling and recovery of EEE. 

You will be responsible for identifying the full-lifecycle systems barriers, enablers and leverage points to transition to a low carbon, Circular Economy for EEE; identifying, developing and evaluating novel circular product-service systems and related circular business models for EEE, that leverage emerging technologies and new behavioural insights; understanding how to mainstream behaviours around reduce, reuse, repair and recycling of EEE and to raise awareness and improve consumer access to circular economy solutions through public engagement and citizen science. 

You should possess a relevant PhD/DPhil (e.g. in Design, Business, Engineering or a related discipline) and sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to work within the established research programme (including circular economy principles/circular economy design, product-service systems and (circular) business models, participatory design approaches and conducting user research). You should be enthusiastic to learn and work independently and as part of a larger team working on the transition to the circular economy, and have the curiosity and motivation to address important real-world problems through rigorous and ambitious academic inquiry. 

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Lucia Corsini  (email: lucia.corsini@eng.ox.ac.uk) 

For more information about working at the Department, see www.eng.ox.ac.uk/about/work-with-us/ 

Only online applications received before midday on 7th October 2024 can be considered. You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, including a brief statement of research interests (describing how past experience and future plans fit with the advertised position), CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application. If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to deliver a short research presentation. 

The Department holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to promoting women in Science, Engineering and Technology. 

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