Postdoctoral Research Associate in System Design and Analysis

Durham University; North East; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading academic institution in the North East of England seeks a Research Associate to engage in innovative research on the compatibility of feedstocks for pyrolysis, particularly poultry waste. The role includes experimental investigation, feedstock characterization, and system design, contributing to sustainable energy solutions. This fixed-term post of 10 months offers a unique opportunity to advance research skills within a collaborative team environment. Applicants ideally should start by 06/02/2026.

Qualifications

• Experience in experimental investigation and feedstock characterization.
• Knowledge of pyrolysis systems and energy potential assessments.
• Ability to contribute to the design and development of systems.

Responsibilities

• Conduct experimental investigations on poultry waste.
• Characterize feedstock and assess performance and environmental impacts.
• Support the design of pelletiser and pyrolysis systems.

Job description

The Role

Applications are invited for the position of Research Associate to work on an innovative research project focused on the compatibility of feedstocks for pyrolysis, with particular emphasis on poultry waste as a sustainable energy resource. The role will involve experimental investigation, feedstock characterisation and performance assessment to determine energy potential, product yields and environmental impacts. In addition, the Research Associate will play a key role in the design and development of pelletiser and pyrolysis systems, supporting optimisation of system efficiency, scalability and operational performance.

The position offers an excellent opportunity to engage in applied research at the intersection of waste management, system design and process engineering, contributing to sustainable energy solutions and resource recovery.

This post is fixed term for 10 months as funding is only available for this amount of time.

The post-holder will be employed as part of a research team led by Prof. Tony Roskilly. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 06/02/2026 with an end-date of 30/11/2026.