University of Strathclyde

Research Associate

Salary: £33,309 - £36,382

FTE: 1.0 (Full Time)

Term: Fixed Term (12 months)

Closing Date: 8 December 2021.

The rapidly expanding Centre for Energy Policy (CEP) is looking to recruit a PhD (or equivalent) qualified Social Scientist/Economist, with interest in considering energy and climate policy issues from a wider public policy perspective. As a Research Associate in the rapidly expanding Centre for Energy Policy (CEP), you will work with the Centre Director, Professor Karen Turner and other research and knowledge exchange colleagues to develop research objectives and proposals. You will also contribute to a range of exciting projects on understanding the wider economic and societal impacts of different net zero actions, including in the areas of renewable energy, industrial decarbonisation and heat decarbonisation. You will conduct both individual and collaborative research, contribute to the development of new research methods, identify sources of funding, and contribute to the securing of funds for research, including drafting grant proposals and planning for future proposals.

CEP has a strong track record of using research to impact real outcomes for society, working with partners in governments, industry, academia and civil society to achieve this, and you will play an active role in contributing to this impact. This will involve liaising with stakeholders across a wide range of sectors and disciplines, as well focusing how you write up research work for publication, individually or in collaboration with colleagues, and disseminating the results via peer reviewed journal publications, presentations at conferences, web content and social media. CEP is highly networked and engaged and you will have the opportunity and be encouraged to share information and ideas, inform future research agendas, and, crucially, to build your own networks.

Located in the School of Government Public Policy you will also have the chance to interact with wider group of colleagues, which will form part of a wider and ongoing set of continuous professional development activities.

To be considered for the role, you will be educated to a minimum of PhD level in a social science discipline, preferably applied economics and/or political economy, with relevant public policy expertise. We are looking for someone who can work with the Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling team to develop scenarios and interpret our whole economy simulation results across a range of relevant public policy areas, to bring political economy insights and develop new linked research. Given the focus of our work, energy /climate policy expertise/knowledge is essential, and some knowledge of green finance (public and/or private sector) would be desirable. You will have the ability to conduct individual research work, to disseminate results and to prepare research proposals. You will have an ability to plan and organise your own workload effectively and an ability to work within a team environment. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to listen, engage and persuade, and to present complex information in an accessible way to a range of audiences.

With new projects coming online and funded by a range of partners including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)/Bellona Foundation, this is an exciting time to join the Centre and contribute to research which is helping to address the pressing and complex net zero public policy challenge.

*Please note that this is a re-advertisement and previous applicants need not apply.

Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Hannah Corbett, Knowledge Exchange Fellow (hanna.corbet@strath.ac.uk).

Formal interviews for this post will be held on Friday, 17 December 2021.