Research Associate in Life Cycle Assessment and Development of Sustainable Construction Products ...

ZipRecruiter; Bath; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading academic institution in Bath is seeking a Research Associate in Life Cycle Assessment to work on sustainable construction projects. The successful candidate will hold a PhD and have expertise in life cycle assessment and data collection. This full-time role offers a competitive salary and various professional development opportunities. Applications are encouraged from diverse backgrounds.

Benefits

Free counselling services

Cycle to work scheme

Generous pension schemes

Annual leave with additional discretionary days

Family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant subject area is mandatory.
• Expertise in life cycle assessment, including data collection.
• Experience in life cycle costing is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform life cycle assessment and costing of innovative construction products.
• Collaborate with partners on sustainability assessments.
• Integrate LCA results into building-scale models.

Skills

Life cycle assessment expertise

Primary data collection

Good organizational skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD in relevant subject area

Tools

Brightway2

openLCA

Job description

Job Description

Research Associate in Life Cycle Assessment and Development of Sustainable Construction Products (CH12914) - Bath, BA2 7AY

Applications are invited for a highly motivated and ambitious Post-Doctoral Research Associate to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team of researchers, led by Dr Stephen Allen in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the University of Bath, UK.

You will be joining a significant European research project - www.inbuilt-project.eu - that aims to co-design, test, implement, and monitor innovative bio-based and geo-based lower carbon products and facade solutions to improve the energy efficiency and whole life impact of buildings. As well as delivering high-quality research, you will be expected to develop strong and effective working relationships with project teams, partners, and external stakeholders.

You will be responsible for:

1. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and simplified life cycle costing (LCC) of innovative construction products, including collaboration with product manufacturers for primary data collection;
2. Collaborating with project partners undertaking social LCA and integrating LCA, LCC, and sLCA into a comprehensive sustainability assessment;
3. Contributing to the definition of resource assessment methodology and key performance indicators for INBUILT’s building-level platform;
4. Integrating product-level LCA/LCC/sLCA results into building-scale 3D Building Information Model.

A lower grade offer (Grade 6) may be made with responsibilities and job title adjusted accordingly if a suitable applicant cannot be found for the Grade 7 position. Applicants will need to be within six months of course completion and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD is awarded.

As a member of Research Staff at the University of Bath, you will be encouraged to undertake a minimum of 10 days of professional development per year.

About you

• A PhD in a relevant subject area;
• Expertise in life cycle assessment, including primary data collection from manufacturers;
• Experience in life cycle costing is desirable but not essential;
• Experience using Brightway2 and openLCA;
• Knowledge of the construction sector;
• Good organizational and presentation skills;
• The ability to work well in an interdisciplinary environment.

Further Information

This is a full-time position, initially for 12 months fixed term, starting from 1 September 2025. Part-time work and flexible arrangements may be possible; applicants should specify this in their application.

For an informal discussion, contact Dr. Stephen Allen at [e-mail]. Please submit your application via our website.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to equality, respecting and encouraging difference. The university has an international reputation, with staff from over 60 nations, and has received a Silver Athena SWAN award. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, especially under-represented groups, and are committed to a safe, inclusive environment.

We are also an accredited Confident Leader, autism-friendly, and committed to supporting disabled staff.

What we can offer you

• Free counselling services;
• Cycle to work scheme;
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme;
• Staff discounts at the Team Bath gym and on postgraduate tuition fees;
• Generous pension schemes;
• Annual leave with additional discretionary days;
• Development opportunities including Apprenticeships and LinkedIn Learning;
• Free entry to the Holburne Museum;
• Local discounts;
• Family-friendly policies;
• Relocation allowance, visa reimbursement, and interest-free loans for immigration expenses.

Closing Date: 17 Aug 2025

Department: Education & Research

Salary: £38,784 to £46,049