Postdoctoral Research Associate in Responsible Business and Finance

Contract: Full Time (1FTE), Fixed Term (24 Months) 

Detailed Description

At Edinburgh Business School, HWU, we are seeking a driven Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to join this interdisciplinary team. This role provides an exciting opportunity to engage in innovative research at the intersection of sustainable finance, social dynamics, and policy frameworks supporting circular economy transitions in the electronics sector. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Research 

• Lead high-quality research on financial innovations, social dynamics, and policies promoting responsible and circular practices in the electronics sector. 
• Collect and analyse quantitative and qualitative data from multiple sources, including surveys, interviews, and secondary datasets.  
• Apply/design appropriate analytical techniques (e.g., econometrics models; AI tools; MCDA; cognitive mapping) to generate impactful insights. 
• Identify funding gaps and explore innovative financing channels for sustainable projects. 
• Develop tools to evaluate and predict sustainability outcomes from financial decisions.  
• Formulate tailored financial solutions to support technological innovations at various stages.
• Analyse public sentiment and consumer readiness for sustainable electronics.
• Explore the role of procurement in promoting sustainable electronics. 
• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies and identify gaps. 
• Produce high-quality academic publications and industry-focused reports or white papers.  
• Collaborate with academic and industrial project partners, including short and medium-term visits, and coordinate activities across the consortium. 

General and Administrative 

• Collaborate effectively with administrative and academic staff in the School and University level.  
• Engage in professional development through relevant training programs aligned with project needs and personal aspirations.  
• Actively engage with industrial and non-academic stakeholders to understand system requirements and address barriers to implementation. 
• Assist with the supervision of student project work and provide day-to-day support to other researchers. 
• Contribute to teaching responsibilities as required. 
• Contribute to developing follow-on research proposals and grant applications for future project funding. 
• Regularly report research progress through formal and informal reports and communications.  
• Undertake additional duties as reasonably requested by project leaders, commensurate with the role. 

Essential Criteria

• A PhD (or near completion) in relevant discipline such as Finance; Economics; Business Analytics; Sustainability or related discipline. 
• Strong understanding of sustainable finance, responsible business practices, and circular economy practices. 
• Proven ability to effectively collect, analyse and work with qualitative and quantitative data. 
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills, with a track record of publications. 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a diverse team of academic and industrial partners.

For all criteria, further details and to apply on-line, please click the above “Apply” button.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers disc.hw.ac.uk.

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof. Bing Xu: b.xu@hw.ac.uk

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