Overview
Funded by UKRI EPSRC, IGNITE (Indigenous Green-steel for Net-zero Innovation, Technology and Enterprise) Sustainable Manufacturing Hub is a multi-university/industry partnership that will kick start a green steel revolution supporting a just transition to net zero economic growth. This £22m IGNITE Sustainable Manufacturing Hub (2025 – 2032) aims to trailblaze the emerging opportunities for UK wide produced green steel to underpin our just transition to net zero.
We are recruiting a post-doctoral research associate for the IGNITE Sustainable Manufacturing Hub. The post being advertised for is located in the Sheffield University Management School and a key member of the Advanced Resource Efficiency Centre (AREC), Energy Institute. We are primarily looking for someone with excellent domain knowledge and the ability and desire to work in a cross-disciplinary manner.
The successful candidate will specialise in supply chain resilience, life cycle assessment (LCA) and supply chain sustainability modelling. The successful candidate will work with Prof Lenny Koh (Deputy Director of IGNITE) to deliver C3.2 (Supply chain optimisation and LCA). C3.2 will build from three research anchors: (a) supply chain sustainability approach for new materials and technologies, (b) prospective LCA with geo-spatial-temporal approach to forecast future sustainability, (c) resiliency measurement to future proof and safeguard critical resources. C3.2 will assess new and green steel alloy supply chain resilience and holistic sustainability.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
* Identify, organise and review appropriate literature, including academic, policy and grey literatures.
* Collect and analyse industry data, large scale panel data and data from databases
* Build LCA models and conduct prospective LCA with geo-spatial-temporal approach to forecast future sustainability
* Develop and conduct supply chain sustainability, resilience assessment and scenario modelling for new materials and technologies
* Develop new supply chain sustainability and resilience tools
* Develop new methods to measure resiliency and holistic sustainability
* Perform advanced statistical and critical analysis
* Write and publish in high quality scientific journals and policy briefs
* Write future research proposals in related fields
* Support Professor Lenny Koh and collect impact evidence from industry and policy makers
* Support cross-cutting and cross-disciplinary work in IGNITE
* Participate and present in meetings, events and conferences
* Work collaboratively with other researchers and partners
* Participate in research activities and events, and be available for engagement activities involving policy makers, businesses and other stakeholders
* Contribute to the principles of the ‘Sheffield Academic’ including excellence in applied teaching and research
* Encourage ethical decision-making and embed the University sustainability strategy into working activities
* Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post
Person Specification
Our diverse community recognises unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn’t match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please reference the application criteria in your application statement.
* Essential A PhD in a relevant subject area or equivalent experience (e.g., operations management, operations research/management science, supply chain management, life cycle assessment, sustainability, resiliency, materials science and manufacturing engineering)
* Essential Willingness to acquire knowledge of materials science and manufacturing engineering
* Essential Ability to initiate and build relationships and communicate impactfully with people at all levels in both public and private sectors
* Essential Excellent written journal publication track record and verbal communication skills
* Essential Ability to work independently, flexibly and in a cross-disciplinary multi-partner environment
* Essential Experience of collecting/sourcing data, building new modelling tools and analysing quantitative large-scale data for advanced modelling (e.g., panel data analysis, AI-enabled forecasting, geo-spatial techniques, Python and advanced coding skills). Tools may include Brightway, Open LCA, SCEnAT, FPSCRS, STATA, Ecoinvent, Matlab, etc.
* Essential Excellent supply chain sustainability and resilience scenario modelling experience and ability to develop new modelling methods/tools
* Essential Excellent prospective LCA with geo-spatial temporal approach and ability to develop new modelling methods/tools
* Desirable Familiarity with data sources relevant to steels, energy, material, supply chain, trade, economic and environment
* Desirable Self-motivated, able to work to tight deadlines, prioritise workload, and respond to urgent high-pressure requests
* Essential Experience of drafting policy briefs and writing proposals with high accuracy
* Essential Experience in impact evidence collection from industry and policy makers
Further Information
* Grade 7
* Salary £38,784 - £42,254
* Work arrangement Full-time
* Duration 36 months
* Line manager Deputy Director of IGNITE
* Direct reports n/a
* Our website https://sheffield.ac.uk/management
* Contact For informal enquiries about this job contact Professor Lenny Koh at s.c.l.koh@sheffield.ac.uk
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place during w/c 13th October 2025. This will consist of an interview and presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 6th October 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact mgt.hr@sheffield.ac.uk.
We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
Our vision and strategic plan
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. Our University Vision outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone. More details can be found at sheffield.ac.uk/vision.
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