Research Associate in Whole Energy Systems Modelling

Location: South Kensington, London 

About the role: The Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London is seeking an outstanding Research Associate to carry out research in energy systems modelling. The role will give you the ability to make a lasting impact on climate change mitigation, one of the grand challenges facing the world this century. 

This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of energy systems modelling development and application, building and applying models around the world in new and existing modelling frameworks (e.g. TIMES, OSeMOSYS, MUSE), and applying them in high-impact settings that can provide the evidence to help countries change the direction they take in addressing climate change. 

What you would be doing:

Working within an excellent team at Imperial College London, you will also have opportunities for travel to collaborate around the world, with a focus on Europe. Academically, your work on modelling frameworks and data development will put you in an excellent position for a future career in this fast-paced area. 

You will work closely with the world-renowned Climate Compatible Growth and HI-ACT project teams, partner country governments and international organisations, you will be able to bring your excellent quantitative, software development, communication and project management skills to bear to deliver energy system design insights and tools that will have a legacy in the countries we engage with. 

What we are looking for and what we can offer you: 

In this exciting role you will be responsible for development and application of energy systems modelling tools, including TIMES, OSeMOSYS and MUSE modelling frameworks. You will work alongside the Climate Compatible Growth project, engaging with CCG partner countries (e.g. Vietnam, Laos, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, India, Malawi, Nepal) at a senior level and co-creating modelling solutions that both meet their needs and deliver cutting edge research insights.

More broadly, you will work in the Imperial College research team of Professor Hawkes, supporting activities as necessary, including MSc and MEng student supervision, supporting communications, and other initiatives as needed. As with any researcher role, you will publish your research in high impact journals and conferences and build a network of peers and collaborators.

• You will have a PhD or equivalent in an area involving energy systems modelling. If you do not have a PhD, you will be close to the award of one, with excellent skills and expertise for the role.
• You will have structured software development experience, using recognised workflows and tools such as Git/GitHub. Alongside this, coding skills will be very useful, for example Python, GIS approaches (ArcGIS, QGIS), SQL, GAMS, Rust.
• You will have energy systems modelling skills, with experience building and applying models that consider future technology deployment to mitigate climate change. We currently use TIMES, OSeMOSYS, and MUSE, but candidates could come from a similar modelling background.
• Outstanding communication skills are essential for this role, with the ability to engage, motivate and secure relationships with our collaborators. This applies to both written and verbal communication.
• The ability to publish excellent articles that both deliver high impact and deep analysis is crucial. We aim to publish in the highest impact journals.
• You must be able to work well within an excellent research team, both on individual tasks and in collaborative situations.

Further Information

You can start immediately and ideally no later than by 1^st September 2024. The contract will run for 12 months in the first instance, with the possibility of extension subject to research funding. The post is based in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London (South Kensington Campus).

Informal enquiries about the post can be made to Professor Adam Hawkes a.hawkes@imperial.ac.uk

Apply online via the above ‘Apply’ button. Candidates will need to complete an online application.

Further information about the post is available in the job description.

Should you have any queries about the application process please contact chemeng.staffing@imperial.ac.uk.

Closing date: Midnight on 28^th August 2024

For technical issues when applying online please email support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk

The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/

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