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 team to work on two EU-funded projects, SAFELOOP and StreamSTEP, both aimed at enhancing industrial process resilience and sustainability while advancing climate neutrality. You will be  involved in engagement across diverse industrial contexts, with a strong emphasis on leveraging data to assess material and process-level innovations that drive competitiveness, reliability, and sustainability in industry.

The StreamSTEP project focuses on optimizing resource-efficient energy systems in energy-intensive industries (EIIs) by integrating advanced digital tools, real-time environmental monitoring, and life cycle assessments (LCA).

The SAFELOOP project aims to enhance the safety, sustainability, and performance of European Gigafactory-scale lithium-ion battery (LIB) cells, ensuring compliance with EUCAR Hazard Level 3 standards for mobility applications. It actively supports European competitiveness across the entire product lifecycle by integrating recycled materials within a closed-loop supply chain.

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 technological 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 in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science (with strong computational focus), Computer Science, Data Science, or a closely related field
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., Python, R, C++).
• Experience with LCA tools (preferably Brightway or equivalent).
• Strong background in data management, including collection, storage, and processing
• Understanding of LCA methodology and GHG accounting standards
• Ability to conduct a detailed review of recent literature
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

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 and essential requirements for the post.

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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