Research Assistant

Location: Aston University Main Campus

Contract Type: Fixed Term (20 months)

Unlocking the Future of Sustainable Building with Biochar!

We are excited to announce the £0.8M project, “Advancing the Use of Biochar in the Building Industry: A Multi-Stakeholder Study”, funded by the UKRI Cross Research Council Responsive Mode (CRCRM) Scheme. Led by Heriot-Watt University, Aston University, and the University of Birmingham, this innovative project aims to transform sustainable building practices.

What’s in store?

• Discover the Power of Biochar: A revolutionary material with significant commercial, environmental, and health benefits, biochar has the potential to reshape the building industry.
• Boost Carbon Reduction: Biochar cementitious composites can reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in various building types, promoting a sustainable future.
• Real Environmental Impact: The project will analyze the life cycle of biochar composites to unlock carbon credits and further environmental advantages.
• Create Holistic Value: By working closely with industry stakeholders, we aim to create qualitative and quantitative indicators that highlight biochar's potential in low-carbon construction.
• A Blueprint for the Future: A decision support framework will be developed to help the building industry incorporate biochar into their projects, offering transferable insights for other sustainable materials.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration at Its Best!

This project is a collaborative effort that brings together experts from civil engineering, building modeling, and social science. The partnership will explore new avenues in low-carbon construction, with stakeholder engagement playing a vital role in ensuring biochar’s value is fully realized across the industry.

The Role: Researcher

We are advertising a position for a researcher to work alongside Professor Dulini Fernando and other team members on this groundbreaking project. The researcher will focus on:

• Developing and expediting a methodology for stakeholder engagement throughout the project lifecycle.
• Creating qualitative and quantitative indicators to assess biochar’s value in building applications.
• Collecting, analyzing, and presenting stakeholder data at each phase of the project.
• Delivering a decision support framework for biochar adoption in the building industry.
• Collaborating closely with all project team members.

What We Offer:

Aston University, located in the heart of Birmingham, offers a vibrant campus environment with excellent transport links. The role allows for hybrid working, combining both on-campus and remote work. We also provide excellent training and development opportunities to support professional growth.

Please note that the salary for this position does not meet the minimum threshold required to sponsor new applicants under the Skilled Worker visa route. If you do not already have a Skilled Worker visa, it is unlikely Aston University can offer sponsorship for this role. If you hold a Tier 2 or Skilled Worker visa, please contact hr_immigration@aston.ac.uk to discuss eligibility.

For more information in regards to this role please Contact Professor Dulini Fernando on d.fernando2@aston.ac.uk for questions

Closing Date: 23.59 hours GMT on Friday 28 March 2025

Interview Date: Monday 19 May 2025

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