Research Associate in Indoor Air Quality

The University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous pension

29 days annual leave

Ride to work and EV car scheme

Job summary

The University of Manchester is seeking a Research Associate to advance indoor air quality research within retrofit environments at the Energy House facility. You will design experiments, deploy sensors, and collaborate across teams to integrate air-quality data with material sustainability evidence.

We welcome candidates with a PhD in atmospheric science or related fields, strong measurement skills, and experience in data analysis.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in atmospheric science or closely related field.
• Specialist knowledge of atmospheric composition measurements.
• Experience designing and conducting atmospheric measurement studies.
• Experience in quantitative data processing and analysis.
• Understanding of processes influencing indoor air quality.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead research on indoor air quality in retrofit environments at Energy House.
• Design experimental protocols for evaluating retrofit products and ventilation systems.
• Take measurements in Energy House facilities and other project sites.
• Operate and maintain sensor systems and research-grade atmospheric instrumentation.

Skills

Atmospheric measurements

Data analysis

Experimental design

Indoor air quality

Instrument maintenance

Education

PhD or equivalent

Tools

Mass spectrometry

Gas sensing equipment

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.

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]

General enquiries and administrative support

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Technical and job portal support

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Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

Further particulars (with person specification) linked below.