Venture capital Fellowship for PhDs in Compute

Contrarian Ventures; Remote; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading climate-tech investment firm in Manchester is seeking a PhD Research Partner to engage in deep tech research that aids in the climate transition. The role involves leading research projects, collaborating with the investment team, and sharing insights. This is a remote position with flexible hours, ideal for a PhD researcher looking to bridge academia and venture capital. This role offers an impactful opportunity to directly contribute to decarbonization efforts.

Qualifications

• PhD researcher with a focus on transformative fields in compute and climate technology.
• Ability to lead research projects and work collaboratively with investment teams.
• Strong communication skills for knowledge sharing.

Responsibilities

• Lead on ad hoc research projects into compute domains.
• Collaborate with investment team on live opportunities.
• Share insights through internal presentations.

Skills

Research expertise in deep tech

Knowledge of climate transition

Strong analytical skills

Education

PhD in relevant field

Job description

We’re looking for a PhD Research Partner to join Contrarian Ventures

Are you excited about the frontier of deep tech and its role in accelerating the climate transition? We’re hiring a PhD-level researcher to dive into some of the most transformative fields of our time :

Compute domains

• Compute – compute architecture & chips, system & architecture innovation, edge to cloud, efficiency breakthroughs, new paradigms, photonic / optical compute, low‑carbon infrastructure

What you’ll do

• Lead on ad hoc research projects into these domains
• Work side‑by‑side with our investment team on live opportunities
• Share knowledge through internal sessions that help us (and our portfolio) stay ahead of the curve

Role details

• 10 hrs / week, flexible with your academic schedule
• 6‑month initial engagement, with option to extend
• Paid fellowship / research associate contract
• Remote position

Why Contrarian Ventures?

At Contrarian, we’re not just investors - we’re builders. As one of Europe’s leading climate‑tech seed funds, we back founders reshaping energy, mobility, compute, and industrial systems for a net‑zero world. Joining us means :

• Impact at scale : your research will directly shape our investments and accelerate real‑world decarbonization
• Hands‑on VC exposure : work with founders at the earliest stages and see how frontier research informs capital allocation
• Collaborative culture : small, high‑conviction team, with global reach through our network of co‑investors

If you’re a PhD researcher looking to bridge academia and venture capital - and want your work to have immediate climate impact - we’d love to hear from you.

Apply here by Nov 21st : https : / / lnkd.in / dxqMxkUc