Research Associate in Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of Tyre Recycling Processes

Heriot-Watt University; Easter Howgate; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave

9 buildings closed days

Total rewards calculator

Job summary

Heriot-Watt University invites applications for a Research Associate to work on prospective life cycle assessment of tyre recycling processes. The role supports the EPSRC tyre-to-tyre project, developing process designs and evaluating environmental performance across future scenarios.

The post holder will combine chemical engineering design with LCA tools, collaborate with industry partners, and contribute to policy-relevant assessment.

Qualifications

• First degree in chemical, process or environmental engineering or similar.
• Near-complete PhD or substantial experience with a strong LCA component.
• Experience evaluating early-stage decarbonisation or recycling technologies.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimise process designs for the new tyre recycling process.
• Evaluate different designs using life cycle environmental performance principles.
• Conduct prospective LCA for future scenarios including net-zero concepts.
• Collaborate with industry partners and multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Analytical skills

Leadership

Interdisciplinary teamwork

LCA software

Education

Chemical/Process/Environmental Eng degree or equivalent

PhD (or near completion) with strong LCA

Tools

SimaPro

Gabi

Brightway

Job description

Role Title: Research Associate in Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of Tyre Recycling Processes

Grade and Salary: Grade 7, £38,448 - £48,337 per annum

FTE and working pattern: Full-time (35hrs per week) Fixed Term (24 Months)

Reward and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff. Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

Purpose of Role

The Research Centre for Carbon Solutions are recruiting a postdoctoral research associate to work on the design and prospective life cycle analysis of novel rubber tyre recycling processes. This is an exciting role for very high-performing environmental life cycle researchers that wish to work on the complexities of predicting the future environmental footprint of very early-stage tyre recycling processes.

The role is part of the EPSRC sponsored tyre to tyre project, where Heriot Watt develops new technology to go from used rubber tyre crumbs straight to new solid tyre precursors. We do this via mechanochemical functionalisation of the used rubber crumb, that activates the used rubber and prepares it to feed straight into tyre manufacturing processes. The project is highly interdisciplinary, and includes chemistry and reactor design and testing, process design and life cycle environmental impact evaluation, process upscaling, and innovation, market, and policy analysis. We work with many industrial partners, including recycling and waste collection companies and multinational tyre manufacturers.

The postholder will develop and optimise process designs for the new tyre recycling process, and evaluate different designs using life cycle environmental performance principles. This involves chemical engineering process design (taking inputs from the reactor design and from the upscaling studies) and life cycle assessment. A key element of the work involves the prospective life cycle assessment, that aims to investigate the environmental performance of different process designs in selected future scenarios, including net-zero scenarios – in line with EPSRC’s ambitions towards achieving the UK governments net-zero goals.

The Research Centre for Carbon Solutions offers a very ambitious yet pleasant and collegial working environment. We strive to set the standards in technology development, scale up, and evaluation, instead of following existing practices. We have and offer strong exposure to relevant research, industry, and policy communities, providing a good springboard for early career researchers desiring to kickstart their scientific career.

Person Specification

These are the criteria on which the short-listing and recruitment selection will be made.

The ideal candidate has a first degree in chemical, process, or environmental engineering or similar, and a PhD (or soon to finalise their PhD or substantial professional experience) with a strong LCA element. You will have worked on evaluating emerging technologies for decarbonisation or circular economies. A good command of typical LCA software (e.g., SimaPro, Gabi) is expected, with good command of research level LCA software (Brightway) beneficial. Furthermore, very strong analytical and conceptual skills are expected, as well as leadership in research design and delivery.

Essential

1. A first degree in chemical, process, environmental engineering or similar
2. A (near) complete PhD or substantial work experience with a strong LCA component
3. Experience working on evaluation of early stage/emerging decarbonisation and/or recycling technologies
4. Proven leadership in research design and execution
5. Evidence of successfully working in interdisciplinary teams
6. Good command of commercial LCA software, e.g., Simapro, Gabi
7. A strong publication record commensurate to career level

Desirable

1. Experience with research level LCA software (Brightway)
2. Experience with prospective LCA (e.g., Premise)
3. Experience with programming/coding, or desire to develop this
4. Experience with computer aided process design (e.g., Aspen Plus, Hysys)
5. Strong communication and project management skills

About Heriot-Watt University

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/.

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.