Research Associate in Indoor Air Quality

The University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employer contribution pension

29 days annual leave + bank holidays

Ride to work and EV car scheme

Job summary

University of Manchester seeks a Research Associate to advance indoor air quality research within retrofit environments, contributing to RAMMIC. You will design experiments, deploy research-grade instrumentation, and coordinate measurements across Energy House and other project sites.

The role emphasizes quantitative data processing, interpretation, and collaboration with sustainable materials researchers to integrate IAQ evidence into retrofit performance assessments.

Qualifications

• PhD in atmospheric science or closely related field.
• Specialist knowledge of atmospheric measurements and indoor/outdoor QA.
• Experience in designing and undertaking atmospheric measurement studies.
• Experience with quantitative data processing, QA, analysis and interpretation.
• Understanding of processes influencing indoor air quality.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead research examining indoor air quality within retrofit environments.
• Design experimental protocols for evaluating retrofit products and ventilation.
• Undertake measurements in Energy House facilities and project locations.
• Operate sensor systems and atmospheric instrumentation.
• Coordinate experiments with related RAMMIC researchers.

Skills

Atmospheric science PhD

Experimental design

Data analysis

Indoor air quality

Physical/chemical processes

Education

PhD in atmospheric science or related

Tools

Mass spectrometry

Gas measurements

Job description

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative individual to join our team as a Research Associate in Indoor Air Quality. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the Retrofit Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Innovation Centre (RAMMIC), a major collaborative research and innovation programme supported through the UKRI Local Innovation Partnership Fund. RAMMIC brings together Greater Manchester capabilities in building performance, advanced materials, indoor air quality, acoustics, environmental sustainability assessment, and innovation support to establish a collaborative innovation ecosystem for smart and sustainable retrofit products and processes.

You will be responsible for:

• Develop and lead research examining indoor air quality within retrofit environments at the Energy House.
• Design experimental protocols for evaluating retrofit products, materials, ventilation systems and other interventions.
• Undertake measurements in Energy House facilities and other project locations.
• Deploy, operate and maintain appropriate sensor systems and research-grade atmospheric instrumentation.
• Work closely with the Research Associate in Sustainable Materials to coordinate experiments and integrate indoor air-quality and material-sustainability evidence.

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

• Have, or be about to obtain, a PhD or equivalent qualification in atmospheric science, or a very closely related discipline.
• Specialist knowledge of atmospheric composition measurements and their application to indoor or outdoor air quality.
• Demonstrable experience of designing and undertaking atmospheric measurement studies.
• Experience of quantitative data processing, quality assurance, analysis and interpretation.
• Understanding of the physical and chemical processes influencing indoor air quality.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of indoor air-quality measurements in homes, test buildings or other occupied environments.
• Experience of online mass spectrometry, including Chemical Ionisation Mass Spectrometry, or other advanced gas- or particle-phase measurement techniques.
• Knowledge of emissions from building materials, consumer products or retrofit interventions.
• Experience of investigating ventilation, damp, mould related indoor air-quality problems.
• Experience of controlled intervention studies or building-performance experiments.

We value transferable skills and real-world experience as much as formal qualifications.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working arrangements.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions.

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Thomas Bannan
Email Address: [e-mail]

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Applications close at midnight on the closing date.