Senior Research Associate or Fellow in Microsimulation
Package Specialist and Supporting Academic Research grade 7 from £47,389 - £56,535 or grade 8 from £59,966 - £67,468, per annum. Subject to annual pay award.
School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Full Time (37 hours per week), 3 year fixed‑term contract
Hybrid: 3 days in the office and 2 days remote
Please note, we will appoint either at grade 7 or grade 8, depending on the successful candidate. There is only one vacancy available. Please indicate in your application which grade you wish to be considered for.
About the role
Join us and be part of a vibrant community at Loughborough University.
Key responsibilities and activities
We are seeking an ambitious and collaborative researcher to join a team developing and applying microsimulation and agent‑based models of cities, including an integrated land use, transport, and health exposure suite currently applied to Greater Manchester, and the ITHIM health impact modelling framework, as well as contributing to the development of entirely new methods and applications.
This is not a narrowly defined role. We are looking for someone who combines strong modelling and simulation skills with genuine intellectual curiosity about the big questions facing cities: How do urban environments and transport systems shape the health and wellbeing of populations? How can integrated microsimulation help us understand the cascading effects of climate change, economic shocks, and policy decisions on cities and the people who live in them? How can we build tools that are not just technically sophisticated but genuinely useful to those making decisions?
You will bring your own ideas, help shape the direction of the programme, build collaborations, including with our international partners at TU Munich, TU Graz, the University of Utrecht, ISGlobal, and TU Berlin, and help to mentor the next generation of researchers in the group.
About the research lead
Professor James Woodcock is a world leader in quantitative modelling for urban health, with an h-index of 98 and a career spanning methods development, large‑scale modelling, and direct policy engagement at national and international level. His research addresses the full complexity of how transport and the built environment shape population health – integrating evidence on physical activity, air pollution, noise, and traffic injury into tools that are rigorous and policy‑relevant.
His current research is expanding beyond mitigation to address climate adaptation, and increasingly encompasses the wider determinants of health and equity, including cost of living pressures, climate‑driven inflation shocks, and the interconnections between transport, housing and food systems. The Senior Research Associate or Senior Research Fellow will be joining a programme at a moment of genuine ambition and growth.
Why apply?
This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of cutting‑edge urban simulation and real‑world policy impact, within an internationally connected programme and under the direct mentorship of a leading figure in the field. You will have the chance to develop your own research agenda, build collaborations across Europe and beyond, contribute to a growing team, and work on questions that genuinely matter for the future of cities and the health of their populations. Whether your background is in transport modelling, urban simulation, spatial analysis, or a related quantitative field, if you are motivated by using models to understand and improve cities, we would love to hear from you.
Adjustments and support
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process. If there are additional adjustments you’d like to request please contact SSEHS-Recruitment@lboro.ac.uk. We also offer reasonable adjustments on the job.
Benefits
* Time off – generous holiday allowance, including 14 university closure days and bank holidays, with the option to buy extra through our holiday purchase scheme.
* Working environment – access to a range of fantastic facilities with plenty of green space across our 523‑acre East Midlands campus, plus an exciting community at our London campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
* Financial wellbeing – competitive pay, two excellent pension schemes, and everyday savings opportunities.
* Support for you and those close to you – through our range of life event leave policies as well as access to an on‑site nursery at our East Midlands campus, flexible and hybrid working options.
* Health and wellbeing – discounted gym memberships and access to world‑class sporting facilities, including physiotherapy, plus healthcare offers such as eyesight testing and wellbeing support.
* Travel and sustainability – access to our electric vehicle and cycle‑to‑work schemes, as well as a variety of travel offers to support sustainable commuting.
Job details
Title: Senior Research Associate or Fellow in Microsimulation
Location: Loughborough, United Kingdom
Contract type: Full Time, 3 year fixed‑term
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