Research Fellow in Industrial Decarbonisation - Food Supply Chains – 15551-1

Centre for Sustainable Energy Use in Food Chains

Location: Brunel University London, Uxbridge Campus

Contract Type: Fixed-term for 36 months.

Brunel University London was established in 1966 and is a leading multidisciplinary research-intensive technology university delivering economic, social and cultural benefits. For more information please visit: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/our-history/home.

We are looking for an experienced researcher to work on an exciting new project on decarbonisation of food supply chains. The project is one of 10 projects funded by UK Research and Innovation (UPRI) as part of the new Place Based Impact Acceleration Account (PBIAA) scheme which is designed to ‘combine some of the UK’s leading engineering and physical sciences research with the ambitions of civic bodies and local business to enhance different regions’ economic capability and growth’. www.ukri.org/news/41-million-to-enhance-uk-research-and-innovation-clusters/.

Our project, Park Royal Net Zero Food Supply Chains is based at the Park Royal Industrial area. Park Royal in West London is one of the largest employment sites in the UK, with 1,700 businesses, employing 40,000 people and producing 30% of London’s food. The project, led by Brunel University London is a collaboration between Brunel, Harper Adams University, West London Business and food industry at Park Royal. The aim is to work closely with the food and drink businesses in the area to develop and implement strategies to address the challenges they face with energy, waste, and productivity to reduce carbon cost, improve resilience and drive economic growth.

The appointee will work alongside business development managers and academics to engage with the food businesses at Park Royal, to first understand and quantify the energy demand, greenhouse gas emissions and waste from their operations and then investigate and propose solutions that will lead to reductions towards the net zero target.

The successful applicant is expected to have a PhD degree in a relevant area of engineering or technology and very good knowledge of food supply chains. Industry experience and good knowledge of technologies that can contribute to reducing energy demand and emissions from food manufacturing and/or improve productivity, such as electrification of cooking and baking, heat recovery and conversion, robotics and automation will be considered an advantage.

We offer a generous annual leave package plus discretionary University closure days, excellent training and development opportunities as well as a great occupational pension scheme and a range of health-related support. The University is committed to a hybrid working approach.

For further information please contact Professor Savvas Tassou on savvas.tassou@brunel.ac.uk.

Closing date for applications: 21 June 2024

For further details about the post including the Job Description and Person Specification and to apply please visit https://careers.brunel.ac.uk.

If you have any technical issues please contact us at: hrsystems@brunel.ac.uk.

Brunel University London is fully committed to creating and sustaining a fully inclusive workforce culture. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities, we particularly welcome applicants who are currently under- represented in our workforce.

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