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Research Associate Marine Social Study

Employer
HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
Location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Salary
£32,817–£40,322
Closing date
10 Oct 2019

Job Details

Location Stromness, GB      

Organization Name School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society      

About Heriot-Watt University          

Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages.

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and practical, leading-edge research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry. We connect with industry at every level and develop programmes to match their needs – so employers get work-ready industry-fit graduates.

Heriot-Watt is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.

We have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership, and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities.

For full details on our University please view our Careers at Heriot-Watt http://www.hw.ac.uk/about/careers-at-heriot-watt.htm

About our Team          

The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society is one of the UK’s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity.  We aim to attain excellence in the teaching of the core disciplines that contribute to a sustainable, resource and energy efficient society and are committed to undertaking high value, high impact research and knowledge transfer in topics of relevance to global challenges.

The School enjoys facilities consistent with its location in modern, purpose-built accommodation on the Edinburgh campus. The School is well equipped in respect of laboratories for materials, structures, engineering, building services and hydraulics research and teaching.  Our research and teaching facilities in Dubai and Malaysia are contained within purpose-built campuses in Dubai Academic City and Putrajaya, respectively. 

Teaching

The School’s undergraduate teaching on our Edinburgh campus covers civil and structural engineering, architectural engineering, construction project management, quantity surveying, geography, urban studies, interior design and the biology suite.  On our Dubai campus we teach civil & structural engineering, architectural engineering, architecture, construction management, quantity surveying and interior design.  On our Malaysia campus we teach civil engineering, construction project management, quantity surveying and geoenergy engineering.  We offer a high quality educational experience underpinned by practical and laboratory teaching, and informed by contact with professional practice.  Most of our degree programmes hold the appropriate accreditation from the relevant professional body.  This educational philosophy ensures excellent employment prospects for all of our graduates.

Programmes of postgraduate study are aligned to the expertise contained in each of our research institutes. Our postgraduate students therefore benefit from state-of-the-art knowledge in their chosen study area.  You can find further information about the School’s postgraduate programmes at https://www.hw.ac.uk/schools/energy-geoscience-infrastructure-society/postgraduate-programmes.htm 

Research

The School is one of the leading research centres in the UK. It has sustained a high reputation for the international standing of its research over two decades. 

 Research within the School is organised into six Institutes:   https://www.hw.ac.uk/schools/energy-geoscience-infrastructure-society/research.htm   

  • Institute of Life and Earth Sciences (ILES)
  • The Urban Institute (TUI)
  • Institute of Geoenergy Engineering (IGE)
  • Institute for Infrastructure and Environment (IIE)
  • Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design (CESBD)
  • Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Equalities Research (I-SPHERE)

All academic staff based on the Edinburgh and Dubai campuses contribute to the research activities of one of our Institutes.

These Institutes support a wide range of research activities of relevance to a sustainable, resource and energy efficient society. Institute staff undertake research funded by research councils, charitable foundations, local and national government. Research outcomes are published in leading international and national journals and key findings are widely disseminated through other media and forms of output.

Detailed Description          

The International Centre for Island Technology (ICIT) of Heriot-Watt University (HWU) is recognised as a world leader in research and teaching about the management of marine resources and their uses by humans. 

The Centre is based at Stromness in Orkney surrounded by both traditional and fast developing maritime industries such as renewable energy and aquaculture. About 1000km of adjacent island coast is home to a plethora of important habitats and species. 

Four established MSc programmes attract students from around the world and research provides attractive PhD possibilities. Renewable energy programmes are designed to produce highly qualified graduates who can fill the skills gap in the emerging renewable energy sector. Programmes in marine planning and marine science provide graduates with a high degree of expertise in the management of marine and coastal resources. ICIT is embedded in the local maritime community with strong links to industry, government and local people.

This Research Associate (RA) will work with the HWU Principal Investigator (Assistant Professor Dr Kate Johnson) on the €9m MUSICA (Multiple Use of Space for Island Clean Autonomy) Research Project which is funded under the EU Horizon 2020 ‘Blue Growth’ programme. The project is undertaken by a multi-national partnership of academic institutions, industry and SMEs. In a five-year programme MUSICA will design, construct and install an offshore test platform as a base to combine several maritime industries [energy (wind, wave, solar), desalination and multi-trophic aquaculture]. Product will be supplied ashore to a neighbouring island in Greece. The project will advance knowledge of the ‘multi-use of marine space’ concept envisaged in the EU ‘Blue Growth’ policy. HWU lead on Work Package 6 (public engagement, quadruple helix, responsible research and innovation (RRI) methodology and training). Also, significant contribution to WP1 and lead on strategy for health and safety. HWU responsibilities are to:

  1. Lead on the investigation into social acceptance and public engagement of the multi-use platform concept in coastal waters (WP6)
  2. Lead on the investigation into an appropriate Health and Safety strategy for multi-activity working on an offshore platform (WP1).
  3. Contribute with others to the development of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and development consent licence for the positioning of the platform in Greek coastal waters (WP1)

It is anticipated that HWU work will be substantially completed in the first 18 months of the project with a monitoring and report writing brief thereafter. The RA contract will be 100% for 18 months with the possibility of part-time extension (10%) for a further 24 months and project end in 2024 if other work is available to fill the balance of time. HWU will lead a large team of international partners in all their allocated tasks and project management skills are essential.

Key duties and responsibilities          

The successful appointee will be expected to undertake the following:

  1. Lead the WP6 research and deliverables programme - stakeholder identification, quadruple helix platform (academia, government, industry, civil society), RRI methodology, engagement and training workshops. Establish good relations with contributing international partners and project manage a large team in the delivery of research and reports.
  2. Work with the WP1 leaders (UCC) and contributing partners to deliver EIA, H&S strategy and development consent for the offshore platform. Lead on the H&S strategy tasks within WP1 and project manage delivery.
  3. Work with the leaders and contributors to all of the WPs. Make HWU contributions where requested and ensure integration of HWU work across the project.
  4. Prepare and deliver presentations at workshops and scientific conferences. 
  5. Co-Write and publish scientific papers disseminating the findings. Open access funding included.
  6. Liaise with HWU departmental staff for the production of accounting, timesheet and other administrative information and reports.

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.  

Education, qualifications and experience          

Essential 

Qualifications

MA or MSc

Experience

Public engagement and socio-economic study and research. 

Experience of working with stakeholders and communities employing participative and consultation techniques.

Competencies, Skills and Knowledge

Project management and networking skills. Leading and maintaining partner, contributor and public relationships.

Written skills and ability for the timely delivery of detailed technical and scientific reports.

Ability to deliver technical presentations to industry, government and public.

Record of peer reviewed publications.

Other:

Inquisitive mind (see note on H&S below) *

Desirable

Qualifications

Possibly a PhD but relevant work experience has a higher priority.

Experience

Maritime Health and Safety methodologies and practice (see note below) *.

Maritime EIA and development consent methodologies.

* N.B. Health and Safety (H&S). H&S is an important part of this role (WP1) and HWU will take the lead in developing a strategy related to multi-use platforms (MUPs). However, it is recognised that experience in this multi-use field is limited or non-existent. We will look to explore related regulation and practice in single sector fields (e.g. oil and gas, aquaculture, wind farm platforms) and conduct original research into their use in combination activities. This criterion is therefore ‘desirable’ rather than ‘essential’ but ideas will be explored at interview.

Working knowledge of the EU ‘Blue Growth Agenda’ and the target industries.

Understanding of marine spatial planning and marine development consent procedures.

Understanding of the EU objectives for multi-use marine platforms and the multi-use of marine space.

How To Apply          

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Thursday 10th October 2019

At Heriot-Watt University we understand that being diverse makes us better which is why we support a culture of respect and equal opportunity, and value diversity at the heart of what we do. We want to increase the diversity of our workplace to underpin a dynamic and creative environment.

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

For informal enquiries contact Dr Kate Johnson, k.r.johnson@hw.ac.uk

Company

Our culture

Heriot-Watt University is one of the top UK universities for business and industry with an established reputation for world-class teaching and practical, leading-edge research.

The Vision

Heriot-Watt's vision is to be world leading, within all its specialist areas of science, engineering, technology and business.

The Mission

Our mission is to create and exchange knowledge for the benefit of society.
We are committed to attracting the very best staff to help us deliver our ambitions.

Company info
Telephone
+(44)01314495111
Location
RICCARTON
EDINBURGH
MIDLOTHIAN
EH14 4AS
United Kingdom

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