Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Systems Approaches for Accelerating a Just Transition (JUST[...]

WISE Campaign; Reading; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Post-Doctoral Research Associate to join a pioneering research program focused on accelerating a just transition to net zero carbon. This role offers the opportunity to engage deeply with local communities and authorities, utilizing qualitative research methods to explore innovative solutions for expanding heat networks. The successful candidate will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, contributing to impactful research that addresses societal challenges while supporting career development. If you are passionate about sustainability and research, this is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Qualifications

• Strong publication record commensurate with career stage.
• Demonstrated experience with social research methods.

Responsibilities

• Work on initiatives to expand heat networks in the Reading area.
• Engage with local communities to develop decarbonisation strategies.

Skills

Qualitative research skills

Data collection and analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Participatory action research

Ethnographic methods

Oral research presentations

Managing multiple research tasks

Solution-oriented mindset

Education

PhD or equivalent in research experience

Job description

University of Reading

School of the Built Environment

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Systems Approaches for Accelerating a Just Transition (JUST-Systems)

Advert Ref. No. SRF50940

Grade 6, £34,980 - £41,732 per annum

Full-time, Fixed Term

UoR listing

Closing date: 23:59 GMT on Sunday 8th June 2025

By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. Successful candidates not already holding a Skilled Worker visa issued before 4th April 2024 will have to have been ‘awarded’ their PhD before being able to be sponsored. There is further information about visas on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.

This is a Post-doctoral Research Associate opportunity and the successful applicant will join “JUST-Systems”, which is a £5.6 million research programme, funded by the UKRI.

JUST-Systems is a multidisciplinary research project with an inclusive environment supporting career development, management and transdisciplinary training on Just Transitions and systems approaches.

The research will focus primarily on initiatives to expand heat networks in the Reading area. The research will be primarily qualitative, using multiple methods aimed at the development and evaluation of scalable solutions. There will also be opportunities to work with colleagues involved in quantitative and policy analysis, with the aim of developing a holistic systems approach.

The research activity will involve close interaction with several external organisations, local authorities, and local communities, developing a deeply people centric and local approach for transition to net zero carbon future. More specifically to explore how the expansion of heat networks can contribute to a fair and inclusive transition. As such, it offers an opportunity to explore how organisations can develop decarbonisation strategies that create co-benefits into other societal and policy domains including the improvement of homes, health, welfare and local economies. Drawing on critical systems heuristics, the focus will be on critical engagement with the local communities, authorities, and broader stakeholders to co-create, identify and evaluate solutions to transition to net zero carbon future.

The successful candidate will work closely with Reading project leads. These include Dr Martin Green, Dr Mehdi Shahrestani, Prof. Libby Schweber and Prof. Stefan Smith.

You will have:

• A PhD or equivalent in research experience
• Strong publication record commensurate with career stage
• Qualitative research skills including data collection and analysis, case study analysis, academic and report writing, stakeholder engagement
• Knowledge and understanding of participatory action research and/or ethnographic methods and/or understanding of energy transitions, and/or system approach
• Demonstrated experience with social research methods including, but not limited to, interviews, focus groups, workshops, and other creative methods
• Demonstrated experience of delivering oral research presentations to multiple audiences
• Demonstrated experience with the delivery of research outputs and reports
• Curious, collegial, organized, independent, disciplined, professional, personable
• Capability to manage multiple research tasks simultaneously without compromising quality
• A proactive and solution-oriented mindset to address challenges quickly and collaboratively
• Willingness to travel for the activities related to the research in Reading area and England
• Ability to travel as required in the UK to support science meetings and key policy events
  

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 18th June 2025

Contact Name Mehdi Shahrestani

Contact Job Title Associate Professor in Sustainable Technologies

Contact Email address [e-mail]

Alternative Contact Name professor Stefan Smith

Alternative Contact Job Title Professor in Energy Systems in the Built Environment

Alternative Contact Email address [e-mail]

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.