Purpose of Role
The Research Associate will work on the EPSRC funded BuildWell Network: Reimaging Future Housing Developments for Health and Sustainability project which aims to connect diverse disciplines and industries relating to residential housing development and the benefits of Green Infrastructure and Space on health, wellbeing, water management and other multiple benefits. The project is a collaboration between Heriot Watt University and the University of York and Northumbria University.
The successful applicant will be based at the Institute of the Sustainable Built Environment at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh. They will be responsible for co-ordinating the network, organising workshops and network activities, as well as conducting research on the outputs and wider literature. They will learn a range of novel participatory methods including housing estate site visits, and plug and play scaled models to work with network members to think about how housing developments are designed and built for health, wellbeing and sustainability benefits. They will be responsible for producing a range of project outputs, including journal papers, gap analysis and policy briefs.
You should have a PhD in a related field, including Geography, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering and have interests in Green Infrastructure and Urban Planning. Applicants must also have excellent co-ordinating, stakeholder engagement and literature review skills, and proven capability in the use of data handling software and GIS. Knowledge of the wide benefits of Green Infrastructure for health and wellbeing, flood and water management and biodiversity is important. Enthusiasm for fieldwork and working in a team are important.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
1. Assist in building the BuildWell network, and responsibility for coordinating network activities.
2. Conduct and disseminate original research aligned with the project and in collaboration with the team, consisting of literature reviews and network activity outputs analysis.
3. Work closely with senior decision makers in the industry to enable a programme of work and the measurement of this
4. Work as part of the broader BuildWell team to help organize events and/ or support the work of the team as needed
5. Contribute to outreach and impact engagement activities of the project
6. Identify appropriate sources of funding and help prepare research proposals for funding bodies
7. Demonstrate initiative in making routine decisions in order to manage and achieve project deliverables and deadlines
8. Participate in, and develop, networks and collaborations both internally and externally to the Division/School /University
9. Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post
Essential & Desirable Criteria
Essential Criteria
Qualifications
10. PhD in relevant discipline (or close to successful completion)
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
11. Evidence of a developing publication record
12. Experience or desire to work with those from other disciplines
13. Evidence of excellent administrative and project management skills
14. Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work independently
15. Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills
16. Excellent time management skills including the ability to prioritise workload
Desirable Criteria
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
17. Evidence of success in attracting research grants/external funding and delivering on externally funded research projects
18. Evidence or knowledge to support international activities