Grade UE07: £41,064.00- £48,822.00 per annum
School of Engineering, College of Science & Engineering
Institute for Infrastructure and Environment
Full time: 35 hours per week
Fixed Term: up to 24 months
The Opportunity:
We are looking for a Research Associate to lead transdisciplinary research exploring how engineering can better respond to climate change by integrating social values, lived experience, and environmental priorities into design and decision-making.
You will build on knowledge emerging from Failure Modes of Engineering activities, collaborating across disciplines and with external partners to co-produce research that advances equitable, resilient, and context-sensitive engineering practice in response to climate disruptions.
You will also join a dynamic, supportive and interdisciplinary environment within Failure Modes of Engineering (FeME). FeME offers opportunities to shape a cutting-edge research agenda with real-world impact and to collaborate with researchers, practitioners and communities across the UK and internationally. FeME is a Network Plus project funded by EPSRC, and a collaboration between the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Heriot-Watt. We have funding for 3 years to expand and nurture a network for researchers and practitioners working on these important challenges.
Your skills and attributes for success:
1. PhD in Engineering, Environmental Science, Social Science or related field linked to climate change, or equivalent industrial experience
2. Proven research track record in climate-related, socially impactful, or engineering-focused fields
3. Experience working across disciplines and engaging stakeholders or communities in research
4. Strong communication and publication skills, with the ability to reach diverse audiences
5. Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and collaborate effectively within a team
Application Information
Please apply enclosing a CV and cover letter including the following:
Potential research themes
We would like candidates to propose topics that they would like to explore in this post. In your cover letter, please state two or three potential topics that you would like to develop and co-create with the FeME network. Candidates may propose or develop research in areas such as (please note that this list is not exhaustive and we are providing it as guidance only):
6. Climate adaptation engineering: How can engineering systems be designed to adapt to unpredictable climate disruptions keeping society at the core?
7. Inclusive design and co-creation: What methods best integrate community knowledge and lived experience into engineering?
8. Failure analysis in socio-technical systems: How do social, ecological, and technical factors interact in engineering failures?
9. Resource-constrained innovation: How can engineering solutions be developed under conditions of scarcity and uncertainty?
10. Ethics and equity in engineering: What frameworks support ethical decision-making in climate-sensitive engineering contexts?