Research Assistant/Associate in Life Cycle Assessment in Newcastle upon Tyne

Salary Research Assistant: £33,951 to £35,608 per annum
Research Associate: £36,636 to £37,694 per annum
Closing Date: 20 August 2026

The Role

We are excited to launch this new opportunity for a Research Assistant or Associate in LCA to join us in the School of Engineering. This position focuses on advancing LCA methodologies and datasets to evaluate the sustainability of emerging technologies, materials, and supply chains of CO2 from raw materials to products and final disposal in the Chemical Industry.

Great British Chemicals is a National Research & Innovation Centre for Sustainable Industrial Futures. Funded by EPSRC and NERC, the centre will unite the UK chemical industry, academic researchers and policy makers to advance innovative, scalable and sustainable technology solutions for defossilising chemicals manufacturing. We aim to create people‑focused opportunities to truly shape sustainable carbon management.

You will contribute to research that integrates supply chain data, environmental modelling, and economic analysis to identify opportunities for reducing emissions, improving resource efficiency, and enabling circular economy strategies. The work will involve analysing flows of materials and energy across global value chains and assessing associated environmental impacts using internationally recognised LCA standards such as ISO 14040/44.

You will conduct a range of LCAs and test the newly developed Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework for the chemical sector. You will develop and implement strategies to improve data availability, quality, and transparency. Having experience with AI/ML for environmental or toxicological modelling would be an advantage. You should be familiar with regulatory data requirements and compliance systems and have the ability to handle data gaps and conflicting datasets for LCAs.

You will join a diverse group of colleagues based in Newcastle in our Environmental Engineering Research Group and work with Oliver Heidrich and Russell Davenport to advance the science, engineering, regulatory practice and environmental assessments of CO2 utilisation. You will work closely with interdisciplinary teams to develop decision‑support tools, including open‑source data platforms and models that enable stakeholders to evaluate sustainability trade‑offs and inform policy, industry strategy, and innovation pathways.

This role is embedded in a flagship programme GB Chemicals, addressing one of the most critical global challenges: transitioning to sustainable, circular, and net‑zero industrial systems. We are particularly keen to hear from those with a passion for collaboration and the ability to interact and engage with industry and academia, and who can be an integral part of a diverse network of specialists.

The research integrates technology scale sustainability and LCA with supply chain modelling, digital tools, and environmental analysis to support decision‑making across industry and policy. You will contribute to shaping how emerging technologies and materials to manage carbon are designed, evaluated, and deployed, ensuring they are environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially responsible.

The quantification of the supply chain data with qualitative inputs will identify efficiency opportunities and environmental challenges that may hinder sustainability. Our work will assess and develop a roadmap to a sustainable net‑zero chemical industry towards SSbD chemicals from feedstocks, intermediates and products. The research aims to shape emerging technologies during early developmental stages to ensure they are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. By focusing on critical resources, minerals, and chemicals, the study will provide actionable recommendations for meeting future demand with minimal environmental impact.

Job Type: Full‑time fixed‑term role, until 31 August 2028.

Key Accountabilities – Research Assistant

• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
• Co‑ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate
• Quantify flows of materials, carbon, and resources across supply chains
• Conduct Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) of products, processes, or systems using established databases (e.g., Ecoinvent) and software (e.g., SimaPro, OpenLCA)
• Develop integrated sustainability models combining environmental, economic (LCC and LCA), and resource efficiency metrics
• Identify hotspots for emissions, resource depletion, and environmental impacts across value chains
• Support development of digital tools and data platforms for sustainability assessment and decision‑making

Key Accountabilities – Research Associate

• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
• Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
• Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding
• Quantify flows of materials, carbon, and resources across supply chains
• Conduct Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) of products, processes, or systems using established databases (e.g., Ecoinvent) and software (e.g., SimaPro, OpenLCA)
• Develop integrated sustainability models combining environmental, economic (LCC and LCA), and resource efficiency metrics
• Identify hotspots for emissions, resource depletion, and environmental impacts across value chains
• Support development of digital tools and data platforms for sustainability assessment and decision‑making

The Person – Knowledge, Skills and Experience – Research Assistant

• Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy
• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
• Proven ability to analyse data and write‑up results
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems
• Experience with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• Strong understanding of sustainability assessment frameworks, circular economy principles, and supply chain analysis
• Experience using LCA tools/databases (e.g., SimaPro, GaBi, OpenLCA, Ecoinvent)
• Skills in data analysis, modelling, or programming (e.g., Python, R, MATLAB, or similar)
• Experience working with complex datasets (e.g., environmental, economic, or industrial data)

The Person – Knowledge, Skills and Experience – Research Associate

• Awareness of the research environment
• High level of analytical and problem solving capacity
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity
• Experience of presentations at conferences and high quality publications

Attributes and Behaviour

• Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi‑skilled research team
• Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity

Qualifications

• Research Assistant: Honours degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Sustainability, or a related discipline
• Research Associate: PhD in Engineering, Environmental Science, Industrial Ecology, Sustainability, or a closely related field

Equal Opportunity and Diversity

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution. We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity and celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams. In addition, we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.