Research Associate in Prospective Life Cycle Assessment for new sustainable materials and chemicals

About the role

We are looking for a skilled and motivated researcher to join our team at the Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change at the University of Bath, to work on an exciting new research programme: the Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Hub (SCHEMA). 

SCHEMA is a multi-partner, multi-disciplinary research programme convening researchers from across the UK with a large consortium of commercial, technology translation and civic partners to improve the sustainability of chemical and polymer production by transforming their design, manufacture, and recyclability. 

You will work with SCHEMA partners to:

1. Develop a screening approach to prioritise chemicals, materials and processes that have potential for low environmental footprints. 
2. Produce full prospective LCAs for selected case studies.
3. Work closely with a parallel SCHEMA project on prospective material flow analysis that will develop a national-scale perspective on chemical and material production systems.

This position is offered full time, fixed term for 24 months from April 2025. Part time working and/or some degree of flexible working may be possible and if interested in applying on this basis you should make this clear on your application form.

About you

Our ideal candidates will have:

• completed a PhD in a relevant discipline;
• expertise in life cycle assessment, and;
• knowledge of chemicals and materials manufacturing, though this could be substituted by a strong ability for interdisciplinary collaboration and a willingness to learn.

Apart from excellent technical skills, good organisational and presentation skills are essential for this role, as is the ability to work well in an interdisciplinary environment. Interaction with academic and industrial partners of SCHEMA and participation in Hub events will be expected. 

A lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6) with comparable reduction in responsibilities and amendment in job title to Research Assistant, if a suitable applicant cannot be found to fill the Grade 7 position. Applicants will need to be within six months of their course completion date and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD has been awarded. 

Further information

Please ensure you submit your application via our website. Please note that during initial shortlisting, the panel can only see your application form and your answers to the shortlisting questions; they cannot see your attachments (e.g. your CV).

For an informal discussion about each role please contact:

Dr. Stephen Allen on mn0sra@bath.ac.uk. 

As a researcher in SCHEMA you will benefit from interactions with a large number of colleagues in chemistry, engineering, material science, computation, and systems analysis at the Universities of Bath, Cambridge, Cardiff, Liverpool, Oxford and York as well as exposure to a network of >20 industrial partners. We are a friendly, sociable research group, and we celebrate a mix of cultures and the creative-thinking that comes from a neuro-diverse, gender-balanced and LGBTQ+ -inclusive team.

As a member of Research Staff at the University of Bath, you will be encouraged to take a minimum of 10 days professional development pro rata per year.

What we can offer you:

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality & intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

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