Research Associate for AI-Enhanced Sustainability Assessment

Location: Imperial South Kensington Campus

About the role:

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher to join our multidisciplinary team and contribute to the design, development, and deployment of computational solutions for dynamic life-cycle assessment (LCA), greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring, and multi-criteria analysis.

You will work on the EU-funded STREAMSTEP and CRONUS projects, both of which focus on enhancing industrial process resilience and sustainability while advancing climate neutrality. STREAMSTEP aims to optimise thermal energy management in industrial processes, whereas CRONUS is dedicated to supporting the decarbonisation of the EU economy in alignment with the European Green Deal goals through carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) techniques within the biofuels production line.

This role offers the opportunity to engage across diverse industrial contexts, with a strong emphasis on leveraging data to evaluate material- and process-level innovations that enhance competitiveness, reliability, and sustainability in industry.

What you would be doing:

You will design robust data-driven tools for dynamic LCA and GHG monitoring. This entails gathering, preprocessing, and analysing large datasets (historical, real-time, simulation outputs) to support modeling activities. You will be implementing solutions in open-source LCA platforms (e.g., Brightway), ensuring their seamless integration with existing and newly developed digital twin solutions and data streams. Eventually, these data-oriented tools will be utilized to assess the impacts of technology advancements, process reconfiguration, regulatory changes, and other external factors on the environmental performance of industrial processes. These assessments will be part of multi-criteria analyses that guide decision making in complex problems.

What we are looking for:

• Hold a PhD (or near completion) or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Environmental Science (with strong computational focus), or a related field.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., Python, R, C++).
• Experience with LCA tools (preferably Brightway or equivalent).
• Understanding of LCA methodology and GHG accounting standards (ISO 14040, 14067, Innovation Fund GHG avoidance methodology).
• Experience of industrial process optimization, energy/material flow analysis, and scenario-based environmental impact assessment.
• Ability to conduct a detailed review of recent literature

What we can offer you:

• The opportunity to work on cutting-edge EU-funded projects, driving sustainable innovation in industrial processes.
• Development of project management and leadership skills through active involvement in high-profile projects, working with cross-sectoral partners, and managing deliverables.
• Hands-on experience with advanced digital technologies, contributing to innovative solutions for a resilient future.
• Professional development opportunities, including publishing in leading journals, presenting at international conferences, and shaping industry standards in sustainability and resilience.
• Access to a sector-leading salary and benefits package, extensive training programs, and career development resources to support your professional goals.

Further Information

Please refer to the job description for full details.

This is a fixed term post for 1 year.

For informal enquiries about the post please contact:

Professor Evina Katsou on e.katsou@imperial.ac.uk.

For queries regarding the recruitment process please contact:

Briony Webb on b.webb@imperial.ac.uk.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds and disabilities. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the interview process and to perform crucial job functions, as well as other support including staff networks. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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