Research Associate

University of Glasgow; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious academic institution in Glasgow is inviting applications for a Research Associate to support the Civic Finance project. The ideal candidate will have a PhD or equivalent in fields like Applied Mathematics or Sustainability Science, with expertise in programming, data analysis, and project management. Responsibilities include conducting research, publishing findings, and contributing to teaching and mentoring. This full-time position offers opportunities for professional development and is funded for three years.

Benefits

41 days of leave for full time staff

Pension benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Free UofG Sport membership

Relocation assistance

Qualifications

• PhD required in a relevant discipline or equivalent professional qualifications.
• Strong knowledge of complex systems and non-linear dynamics.
• Solid understanding of agent-based modelling principles.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assigned research in accordance with project deliverables.
• Document research output and maintain records.
• Develop and maintain research profile and reputation.
• Understand research challenges and develop strategies.
• Present work at international conferences.

Skills

Advanced programming skills

Data handling and analysis

Communication skills

Organization skills

Project management

Education

PhD in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Sustainability Science, or related field

Tools

NetLogo

Python

Java

Julia

C++

Job description

Job Description

Civic Finance is an ambitious research project led by Prof. Javier Solana and funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant (Grant Agreement No.: 101165302). The overarching objective of Civic Finance is to develop a complexity‑informed theory of law and finance that can underpin the foundations of a civic financial system; in particular, a financial system that refrains from enabling unsustainable levels of CO₂ emissions. To achieve this objective, Prof. Solana is putting together an interdisciplinary team of researchers interested in exploring how financial services influence CO₂ emissions, and how financial institutions make decisions about the provision of those services.

To support Civic Finance, the School of Law is inviting applications from highly motivated and ambitious candidates for the position of Research Associate. The Research Associate will work closely with Prof. Javier Solana (Professor of Law and Finance) and other members of the Civic Finance team, and will engage with a small interdisciplinary group of world‑leading scholars who sit on the project’s Advisory Board.

Working closely with Prof. Solana, the successful candidate will be responsible for collecting and analysing data on the different services that financial institutions provide to a specific group of high‑emitting market actors, and for using relevant techniques to identify the most influential financial institutions (e.g. network analysis). The successful candidate will also be responsible for building an agent‑based model to study the behaviour of financial institutions and other market actors, and the impact of different legal interventions on that behaviour. Moreover, the successful candidate will be responsible for presenting these analyses in high‑quality academic papers that will be submitted for publication at top‑tier academic journals. Lastly, the successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals relevant to Civic Finance.

The Research Associate will have ample opportunities to plan and develop their career while in post. Most notably, the University of Glasgow is a signatory to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers (the 'Researcher Development Concordat'), which commits 10 days pro‑rata for professional development to all research staff. As part of that commitment, the successful candidate will have access to a wide range of opportunities designed by the University of Glasgow to support its postdoctoral researchers. To learn more about the implications of the University’s implementation of the Concordat for your career, please visit this website. In addition, the successful candidate will be able to design a bespoke development programme with the guidance of Prof. Solana and the Research Support Office to identify the most relevant learning and development opportunities available at the University. Moreover, the successful candidate will be able to build a global professional network of academic researchers and practitioners, benefiting from the international networks of the Civic Finance team and the University of Glasgow more broadly. Lastly, the successful candidate will be invited to join relevant research clusters within the School of Law, such as the Corporate & Financial Law and the Just Transitions research clusters, including their regular research seminars, as well as other relevant research clusters across the University. Where appropriate, the successful candidate will also have the opportunity to develop new projects and to engage in teaching opportunities to support their career planning.

This full‑time position is available from June 2026 until May 2029. While the preferred starting date is 1 June 2026 a different starting data can be accommodated depending on circumstances.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and the project research strategy.
• Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.
• Establish and maintain your research profile and reputation and that of the University of Glasgow and the Civic Finance project, including establishing and sustaining a track record of independent and joint publications of international quality, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.
• Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project and subject area, and develop a suitable research strategy to deliver project requirements and opportunities.
• Presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research and/or impact profile.
• Take a leading role in the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research and impact.
• Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the Civic Finance project, the School of Law, and the University more broadly, and wider community (e.g. academic and industrial partners).
• Take a leading role in project team meetings and School research activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the School.
• Take the lead in the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.
• Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research project, including budgets/expenditure.
• Contribute as appropriate to teaching activities and associated administration, as may be assigned through the School in consultation with your line manager.
• Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field.
• Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by your line manager and the Head of School.
• Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with University strategy.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills And Experience

Essential Knowledge & Qualifications

• Normally Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) plus track record of emerging independence within a research/professional environment or alternatively possess professional qualifications and experience equivalent to PhD level plus the requisite experience. This can be in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Sustainability Science or a closely related field, or in Computational Social Sciences (particularly, Anthropology, Economics, Finance, Law, Psychology, Sociology or related disciplines).
• Strong knowledge of complex systems and non‑linear dynamics in economic or social systems.
• Solid understanding of agent‑based modelling principles.

Desirable Knowledge

• Familiarity with sustainable finance policy debates in the EU and/or the UK.
• Foundational knowledge of microeconomic theory and core macroeconomic concepts relevant to modelling economic systems.
• Knowledge of financial economics, network theory, institutional economics, or evolutionary economics.

Essential Skills

• Advanced programming skills in at least one relevant language (e.g., NetLogo, Python, Java, Julia, C++).
• Competence in data handling and analysis, including calibration and validation of models.
• Ability to write clear, well‑structured code with appropriate documentation.
• Ability to communicate material of a specialist or highly technical nature, both orally and in writing, to academic and non‑academic audiences.
• Capacity for bold and innovative research.
• Effective organisation skills to manage, prioritise and deliver own research, teaching and administrative responsibilities.
• Ability to plan and progress work activities within professional guidelines or organisational policy, applying initiative and independent judgement.
• Strong project management and teamwork skills.
• Ability to contribute ideas for new research projects and research funding applications.
• Commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources and practices that support replication.

Essential Experience

• Demonstrated research experience involving computational or simulation‑based modelling, particularly agent‑based modelling.
• Experience with statistical analysis and visualisation of simulation output.
• Track record of emerging independence within a relevant area or in a relevant professional environment.
• Experience of presenting research findings in peer‑reviewed research articles or working papers in relevant fields.

Desirable Experience

• Experience researching environmental sustainability considerations of business activities.
• Demonstrated research experience involving network analysis.
• Experience of independently managing a discrete area of a research project.
• Experience working collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Professor Solana, [e-mail]

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £41,064 - £46,049 per annum.

This post is full time, and has funding for up to 36 months.

Hybrid working arrangements will be welcomed in line with the University’s flexible working policy.

Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
• An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.
• A flexible approach to working.
• A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under‑represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing date: 26 February 2026 @23:45