Research Fellow (Life Cycle Assessment of Manufacture and Recycling of New Energy Devices) - School of Metallurgy and Materials - 108037 - Grade 7

University of Birmingham · United Kingdom

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Position Details

School of Metallurgy and Materials

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 7, salary £42,254.

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to August 2029

Closing date: 27^th October 2026

UK and International Travel may be required for this role

Background

This post will be part of a new European project, SuMaCer, on the Sustainable Manufacturing of Functional Ceramics for Europe’s Net-Zero Industry Energy Devices. Your part in this project will be to embed life cycle thinking across the project, by engaging directly with the researchers involved in designing and running new manufacturing processes to gather the data required for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) calculations and to advise them on how to improve the sustainability of their processes. In addition, you will track the economic and circularity indicators of the prototype devices.

The project is a large consortium of five academic institutions and eight industry partners, all working together on developing the energy devices needed to power the transition to Net Zero, spanning batteries, fuel cells and electrolysers. Your role will be to assess the sustainability of the selected materials, following the EU’s Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, as well as that of the manufacturing and recycling processes involved. You will inform the research partners of the data required for your life cycle inventory, proactively gather that data and perform calculations to determine environmental hotspots and key impacts. You will update the project partners on the credentials of their processes and suggest a range of possible improvements that they could realistically implement, through leading and participating in eco-design workshops. As many of the processes involved will be at low technology readiness level (TRL), you will be required to extend your LCA calculations to provide prospective assessments, using well defined future scenarios. You will also perform technoeconomic assessments (TEA), to identify cost estimates, as well as risks and opportunities in the energy and hydrogen sectors.

The role has many opportunities for travel to project meetings, conferences and for secondments at other institutions across Europe. There will be opportunities to work with both UK and European industry partners, to get a feel for the connections between industry and academia.

Role Summary

Work within specified research grants and projects.
Initiate and conduct original research which has measurable outcomes and is reflected in a growing national and often incipient international reputation.
Plan, design and co-ordinate research activities and programmes.
Analyse and interpret research findings and results.
Publish results of own research.
Contribute to the development of research strategies.
Contribute to the supervision of PhD students.
Contribute to generating funding.
Contribute to the Department/School through management/leadership.
Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities, widening participation, school outreach or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University.

Main Duties

To plan and carry out research, using appropriate methodology and techniques. This may include:

Deciding, in consultation with the principal investigator and others as appropriate, the most appropriate way of undertaking the specified research activities.
Developing research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, within the scope of the research, defined below.
Contributing to deciding what information to include in a bid for research funding and how to present the bid to maximise the likelihood of securing the funding.

Scope of the role:

Work closely with the SuMaCer scientists to measure their life cycle inventories, provide LCA calculations and suggest ways to make their processes even more sustainable.
Quantitatively assess the environmental, social and technoeconomic impacts of materials used and processes developed within the SuMaCer consortium, using established life cycle methods and comparing them against established benchmarks.
Define future scenarios for scale-up and evolving energy systems and use these to perform prospective assessments.
Assess the safety aspects of the selected materials, comparing them against industrial standards, following the EU’s SSbD framework.
Track the economic indicators, replicability and circularity of the devices being developed within the consortium.

Research Skills:

Develop novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued.
Collect and curate research data, collected through a variety of research methods, such as direct scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews.
Store this data in a secure and accessible manner.
Analyse and interpret data.
Apply knowledge in a way that develops new intellectual understanding.

Dissemination Skills:

Decide, in collaboration with co-authors, which aspects of the research findings to include in a presentation or a publication and how to convey the findings.
Present high quality findings in publications and conference proceedings.
Present research outputs to academic and non-academic audiences, at UoB, national and/or international conferences, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters.

Citizenship:

Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research.
Provide expert advice to colleagues and students within discipline.
Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline.
Promote equality and value diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture, actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.
Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration.
Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader.

Planning & organising:

Project manage research activities, including dealing with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
Contribute to the planning and organising of the SuMaCer research programme.
Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort, as well as engage relevant expertise across the University and with external partners.
Undertake management/administration arising from research.

Person Specification

First degree in area of specialism and normally, a higher degree relevant to either battery supply chains, manufacturing/recycling processes, or life cycle assessment, or equivalent qualifications.
Background may be in quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods research but should be able to effectively work across disciplines.
Demonstrable knowledge of life cycle assessment, and/or technoeconomic assessment and/or materials flow analysis, are desirable.
High level of analytical capability, with good knowledge of batteries/related technology manufacture, or recycling, and/or environmental impact assessment methodologies.
Extensive research experience and scholarship within subject specialism.
Experience and achievement reflected in a growing reputation.
Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results.
Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful models, techniques and methods.
Ability to communicate complex information clearly for academic and non-academic audiences.
Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively.
Understanding of and contribution to broader management/administration processes.
Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.
Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Informal enquiries to Jacqueline Edge, email: j.s.edge@bham.ac.uk

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.

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