Research Assistant or Fellow in Global Hydrogen Energy Systems and Society

Fixed Term Contract for 24 months 

Research Assistant (if close to completing PhD): £34,450 per annum 

Research Fellow (if PhD obtained): £37,337 per annum

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Global Hydrogen Production Technologies (HyPT) Centre, working across the UK, Australia, US and Canada, creating a step change in the development of responsible hydrogen ecosystems and accelerating decarbonisation of energy systems globally. 

About the Role

HyPT seeks to accelerate the development of net zero hydrogen technologies and ecosystems in a sustainable, just manner. You will join the global HyPT Centre to support the work programme on policies, economics and markets. As a social scientist or engineer with social science interests and experience, you will join a transdisciplinary team of world-leading experts on H2NZ and responsible energy transitions. The HyPT Centre offers Early Career Researchers a vibrant, supportive research ecosystem with opportunities to work across disciplines and cultures. 

This role will be to contribute to designing and assessing the effectiveness of alternative governance measures and strategies to accelerate the social acceptability and uptake of H2NZ technologies and systems and support a just energy transition. 

Using a socio-technical systems approach, you will create pathways for a receptive environment to H2NZ uptake. Focusing on four hydrogen niche case studies with our partner countries, you will work with multiple stakeholder groups to map drivers and challenges to H2NZ production at scale. You will evaluate incumbent governance regimes globally and support the team in establishing a set of adaptive governance principles, community engagement strategies, and policy frameworks with best practice recommendations considering the specific challenges and opportunities hydrogen production brings. The project may involve international travel to our partner countries.

About You

You will be educated to doctoral level (or close to completion) in political science, sociology or other social sciences, or law, and will have experience in working with diverse stakeholders, designing and implementing qualitative research methods, and analysing qualitative data.

PhDs from other disciplines, particularly energy, environment and engineering related fields, will be considered if there is experience with governance systems and/or qualitative research methods and a clearly expressed desire to move into a career in socio-technical transitions.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply                                     

To apply please click above 'Apply' Button or contact us on (E): peoplerecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk.

Closing date: 12 January 2025

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