Research Assistant for ESRC IAA Project

Durham University; North East; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham University seeks a Research Assistant (RA) for a six-month fixed-term role focused on the economic and environmental feasibility of ochre waste conversion for phosphate removal in wastewater treatment. The RA will evaluate supply chain implications, logistics optimisation, and ensure regulatory compliance, working alongside academics and industry partners, including Northumbrian Water Ltd. This role is pivotal in exploring sustainable and commercially viable approaches within environmental frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Evaluating supplier relationships, market effects, logistics dependencies, and long-term resource availability.
• Developing an optimised supply chain model, including supplier roles, sourcing locations, and material flow strategies.
• Optimising transportation, storage, and processing efficiency by integrating inventory management, material handling, and reverse logistics strategies.
• Evaluating suitable contract mechanisms for commercial adoption.
• Conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the ochre recovery process and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations (e.g. heavy metal limits).

Job description

The Role

Applications are invited for a Research Assistant (RA) to support the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) research project titled "Ochre-Based Phosphate Removal in Wastewater Treatment: A Feasibility Study on Supply Chain, Economic, and Environmental Impacts."

This Project Will Evaluate The Economic And Environmental Feasibility Of Converting Ochre Waste Into Iron Salts For Phosphate Removal In Wastewater Treatment. You Will Investigate Supply Chain Ramifications And Dynamics, Logistics Optimisation, Economic Viability, And Environmental Impacts To Ensure Commercial Sustainability And Regulatory Compliance. Your Tasks Will Include

• Evaluating supplier relationships, market effects, logistics dependencies, and long-term resource availability.
• Developing an optimised supply chain model, including supplier roles, sourcing locations, and material flow strategies.
• Optimising transportation, storage, and processing efficiency by integrating inventory management, material handling, and reverse logistics strategies.
• Evaluating suitable contract mechanisms for commercial adoption.
• Conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the ochre recovery process and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations (e.g. heavy metal limits).
  
  

The successful applicant will work alongside the project PI, Dr Nail Tahirov, Prof. Atanu Chaudhuri, and Mr. Chris Jones from project partner Northumbrian Water Ltd, as well as Prof. H. Chris Greenwell, and Prof Gavin J. Bridge.

This RA role is funded by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) Fund. This post is fixed term for 6 months and may not be extendible for a further length of time.