Research Associate – Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of UK Buildings
We are looking for a researcher to join our team to work on an exciting multi‑institution project on the circular economy for buildings: BuildZero. BuildZero aims to understand if the UK’s needs from its building stock can be met with zero new raw material extraction, zero emissions and zero waste. Our research will show to what extent this vision is achievable and desirable, and provide a platform for translating circular economy approaches into practice and policy at scale.
About the Role
Within this wider project, your focus will be on understanding the environmental footprint of circular economy strategies into the future. To do this you will conduct prospective life cycle assessment of BuildZero strategies. This is essential to ensure that selected strategies really do move us towards zero carbon and zero waste construction when the whole life cycle is considered. You will be an integral member of the large, multidisciplinary BuildZero project team, and will also contribute to wider project tasks, events and outputs.
A lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6) with comparable reduction in responsibilities and amendment in job title to Research Assistant, if a suitable applicant cannot be found to fill the Grade 7 position. Applicants will need to be within six months of their PhD completion date and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD has been awarded.
About You
* Completed a PhD in a relevant discipline.
* Expertise in life cycle assessment.
* Experience using Brightway 2 and/or openLCA, or other relevant experience in programming (particularly Python).
* Familiarity with issues of circular economy and the built environment, or a strong ability for interdisciplinary collaboration and a willingness to learn.
* The ability to organise and prioritise your own workload, and to work in a broad interdisciplinary team, both within Bath and across the wider project.
* Excellent oral, interpersonal and written communication skills.
Interaction with academic and industrial partners of BuildZero, and participation in consortium events, will be expected.
Working Conditions
* Full‑time position for 2 years, available from 1 June 2026.
* Part‑time working may be possible.
* Hybrid working arrangement: remote work combined with regular on‑campus collaboration. You will be required to work on campus 2–3 days per week.
* As a member of Research Staff you will be encouraged to take up a minimum of 10 days of professional development pro‑rata per year.
Benefits
* Free counselling services through Health Assured.
* Cycle‑to‑work scheme.
* Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme.
* Staff discount at Team Bath gym.
* Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees.
* Staff discount on language courses.
* Generous employer contributory pension schemes.
* Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days.
* A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including Apprenticeships and LinkedIn Learning.
* Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath.
* Local discounts and more.
* A family‑friendly workplace.
* An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce.
* Relocation allowance.
* Visa reimbursement and interest‑free loan to help with some immigration expenses.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff and community. We celebrate difference, respect all individuals and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds and communities, particularly from under‑represented groups. We are signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, and are an accredited Disability Confident and autism‑friendly university, committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.
All applicants will be considered for a suitable position, and the selection process is designed to reduce unconscious bias and is fully anonymised at the initial shortlisting stage.
#J-18808-Ljbffr