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- Tasks: Join a pioneering project to revolutionise green steel and drive sustainability.
- Company: Sheffield University Management School, part of an innovative multi-university partnership.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive environment, and opportunities for impactful research.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the transition to net zero while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: PhD or equivalent experience in relevant fields; strong data analysis and modelling skills.
- Other info: Collaborative atmosphere with excellent career growth and engagement with industry leaders.
The predicted salary is between 33500 - 42000 £ per year.
Overview
Funded by UKRI EPSRC, IGNITE (Indigenous Green-steel for Net-zero Innovation, Technology and Enterprise) Sustainable Manufacturing Hub is a multi-university/industry partnership that will kick start a green steel revolution supporting a just transition to net zero economic growth. This £22m IGNITE Sustainable Manufacturing Hub (2025 – 2032) aims to trailblaze the emerging opportunities for UK wide produced green steel to underpin our just transition to net zero.
We are recruiting a post-doctoral research associate for the IGNITE Sustainable Manufacturing Hub. The post being advertised for is located in the Sheffield University Management School and a key member of the Advanced Resource Efficiency Centre (AREC), Energy Institute. We are primarily looking for someone with excellent domain knowledge and the ability and desire to work in a cross-disciplinary manner.
The successful candidate will specialise in supply chain resilience, life cycle assessment (LCA) and supply chain sustainability modelling. The successful candidate will work with Prof Lenny Koh (Deputy Director of IGNITE) to deliver C3.2 (Supply chain optimisation and LCA). C3.2 will build from three research anchors: (a) supply chain sustainability approach for new materials and technologies, (b) prospective LCA with geo-spatial-temporal approach to forecast future sustainability, (c) resiliency measurement to future proof and safeguard critical resources. C3.2 will assess new and green steel alloy supply chain resilience and holistic sustainability.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
- Identify, organise and review appropriate literature, including academic, policy and grey literatures.
- Collect and analyse industry data, large scale panel data and data from databases
- Build LCA models and conduct prospective LCA with geo-spatial-temporal approach to forecast future sustainability
- Develop and conduct supply chain sustainability, resilience assessment and scenario modelling for new materials and technologies
- Develop new supply chain sustainability and resilience tools
- Develop new methods to measure resiliency and holistic sustainability
- Perform advanced statistical and critical analysis
- Write and publish in high quality scientific journals and policy briefs
- Write future research proposals in related fields
- Support Professor Lenny Koh and collect impact evidence from industry and policy makers
- Support cross-cutting and cross-disciplinary work in IGNITE
- Participate and present in meetings, events and conferences
- Work collaboratively with other researchers and partners
- Participate in research activities and events, and be available for engagement activities involving policy makers, businesses and other stakeholders
- Contribute to the principles of the ‘Sheffield Academic’ including excellence in applied teaching and research
- Encourage ethical decision-making and embed the University sustainability strategy into working activities
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post
Person Specification
Our diverse community recognises unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn’t match perfectly with this role\’s criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please reference the application criteria in your application statement.
- Essential A PhD in a relevant subject area or equivalent experience (e.g., operations management, operations research/management science, supply chain management, life cycle assessment, sustainability, resiliency, materials science and manufacturing engineering)
- Essential Willingness to acquire knowledge of materials science and manufacturing engineering
- Essential Ability to initiate and build relationships and communicate impactfully with people at all levels in both public and private sectors
- Essential Excellent written journal publication track record and verbal communication skills
- Essential Ability to work independently, flexibly and in a cross-disciplinary multi-partner environment
- Essential Experience of collecting/sourcing data, building new modelling tools and analysing quantitative large-scale data for advanced modelling (e.g., panel data analysis, AI-enabled forecasting, geo-spatial techniques, Python and advanced coding skills). Tools may include Brightway, Open LCA, SCEnAT, FPSCRS, STATA, Ecoinvent, Matlab, etc.
- Essential Excellent supply chain sustainability and resilience scenario modelling experience and ability to develop new modelling methods/tools
- Essential Excellent prospective LCA with geo-spatial temporal approach and ability to develop new modelling methods/tools
- Desirable Familiarity with data sources relevant to steels, energy, material, supply chain, trade, economic and environment
- Desirable Self-motivated, able to work to tight deadlines, prioritise workload, and respond to urgent high-pressure requests
- Essential Experience of drafting policy briefs and writing proposals with high accuracy
- Essential Experience in impact evidence collection from industry and policy makers
Further Information
- Grade 7
- Salary £38,784 – £42,254
- Work arrangement Full-time
- Duration 36 months
- Line manager Deputy Director of IGNITE
- Direct reports n/a
- Our website https://sheffield.ac.uk/management
- Contact For informal enquiries about this job contact Professor Lenny Koh at s.c.l.koh@sheffield.ac.uk
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place during w/c 13th October 2025. This will consist of an interview and presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 6th October 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact mgt.hr@sheffield.ac.uk.
We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
Our vision and strategic plan
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. Our University Vision outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone. More details can be found at sheffield.ac.uk/vision.
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Research Associate - IGNITE C3.2 employer: The University of Sheffield
Contact Detail:
The University of Sheffield Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Research Associate - IGNITE C3.2
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend conferences, workshops, or even local meetups related to sustainability and supply chain management. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Show Off Your Skills
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, don’t hold back! Share your experiences with LCA models and sustainability assessments. Let them know how your skills can contribute to their projects, especially in green steel initiatives.
✨Prepare for the Interview
Do your homework on the IGNITE project and its goals. Be ready to discuss how your background aligns with their mission. Think about examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to tackle challenges in supply chain resilience.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to the green steel revolution.
We think you need these skills to ace Research Associate - IGNITE C3.2
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Stuff: Make sure you really understand the role and the research areas involved. Highlight your relevant experience in supply chain resilience, LCA, and sustainability modelling. We want to see how your background fits with what we're doing at IGNITE!
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Use the job description to guide your writing. Reference specific criteria and show us how your skills and experiences align with our needs. This will make your application stand out!
Show Your Passion: We love candidates who are genuinely excited about green steel and sustainability. Share your enthusiasm in your application statement and let us know why this role matters to you. It’s all about that personal touch!
Apply Through Our Website: Remember to submit your application through our official website. It’s the best way to ensure it gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need there to make your application shine!
How to prepare for a job interview at The University of Sheffield
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid grasp of supply chain resilience, life cycle assessment, and sustainability modelling. Brush up on the latest research and methodologies in these areas, as well as any relevant tools like Brightway or Open LCA. This will show that you're not just familiar with the concepts but are genuinely passionate about them.
✨Show Your Collaborative Spirit
Since this role involves working across disciplines and with various partners, be ready to discuss your experience in collaborative projects. Share examples of how you've built relationships and communicated effectively with different stakeholders, whether in academia or industry.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect some technical questions related to data analysis and modelling. Be prepared to explain your approach to building LCA models or conducting scenario modelling. If you can, bring along examples of your previous work or projects that demonstrate your skills in these areas.
✨Engage with the Vision
Familiarise yourself with the IGNITE Sustainable Manufacturing Hub's goals and how they align with the broader vision of net-zero economic growth. Be ready to discuss how your expertise can contribute to this mission and why you’re excited about being part of such an impactful initiative.