Research Assistant / Associate in Climate Compatible Growth

International Society for Industrial Ecology; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization in the UK seeks a Research Assistant/Associate for the Climate Compatible Growth programme. This role focuses on critical materials facilitating low-carbon transitions in developing nations. Applicants should possess a PhD in Engineering or a related field, with skills in environmental assessment, emissions accounting, and programming. The position is based in Cambridge and runs initially for six months, offering a chance to contribute to critical sustainable energy projects.

Qualifications

• PhD in Engineering, mining, or supply chains or close to obtaining.
• Knowledge of environmental assessment and emissions accounting.
• Experience with programming languages and GIS software.

Responsibilities

• Research critical material production and supply chains.
• Collaborate with institutions in partner countries.
• Produce high-quality research outputs.

Skills

Environmental assessment

Emissions accounting

Programming languages (Python, MATLAB, R)

Collaboration with multicultural partners

Education

PhD in Engineering or related field

Tools

GIS-type software

GitHub

Job description

Research Assistant / Associate in Climate Compatible Growth (CCG)

A Research Assistant/Associate position has become available as part of the Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) programme, an exciting research programme involving leading UK universities and KTH Sweden. CCG is funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which aims to support investment in sustainable energy and transport systems to meet development priorities in the Global South. The key partner countries in CCG are Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Lao PDR, Viet Nam and India where joint research projects are in place. The specific focus of this post is critical materials (such as lithium, cobalt, graphite) to support low‑carbon transition in developing countries.

The post holder will be located in Cambridge, UK. This post is full‑time and offered on an initial fixed‑term contract basis to start as soon as possible after 1st August 2023 for 6 months or until 31/03/2024, whichever comes sooner.

The key responsibilities and duties are:

• Research critical material production & supply chains
• Academic & policy writing
• Collaborate with institutions in selected CCG partner countries

The skills, qualifications and experience required for the role:

• Applicants must have (or be close to obtaining) a PhD in Engineering or a field relating to mining, supply chains, or similar.
• Knowledge and experience in: environmental assessment, emissions accounting, tools of Industrial Ecology; cost estimations of supply chains and production processes of minerals; programming languages (i.e. Python, MATLAB, R), software control (i.e. GitHub) and GIS‑type software.
• Collaboration and communication with multicultural partners, research institutes, colleagues.
• Evidence of potential to produce and clearly communicate high‑quality research outputs.
• Experience of managing own workload, sticking to deadlines, and ability to constantly update knowledge.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact Prof Jonathan Cullen at [e-mail] for queries of a technical nature related to this role, and please contact Joanna Wakeling at [e-mail] for queries about the application process.