Research Associate (Fixed term)

Contract Length: 36 months 

About Us

University of East London (UEL)  is a vibrant, diverse, and forward-thinking institution dedicated to transforming lives through exceptional education and career-focused opportunities. As a careers-first university, we have been proudly preparing students for the jobs of the future for 125 years.

UEL has always been at the forefront of innovation, and our ambitious Vision 2028 strategy underscores our commitment to reshaping education for the benefit of all. We empower students from all backgrounds with the skills and opportunities to excel in today’s dynamic world.

The School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering (ACE) at the University of East London (UEL) is a hub for impactful, multidisciplinary research focused on sustainability, smart systems, and inclusive design. UEL is a diverse and forward-thinking institution with a strong heritage dating back to 1898, currently driving its strategic Vision 2028—a 10-year transformation plan aimed at delivering impactful research, advancing innovation, and addressing the grand challenges of our time.

Within ACE, the Department of Engineering and Construction is actively engaged in collaborative research initiatives addressing the urgent global need for sustainable energy systems. The Sustainability Research Institute (SRI), established in 2021, stands as one of the UK’s first dedicated institutes for sustainability research. The SRI, in partnership with industry leaders like Siemens, supports UEL’s ambition to become a net zero carbon campus by 2028.

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Associate to join a cutting-edge UKRI-funded research project titled "Behavioural Data-Driven Coalitional Control for Buildings." The project is led by Professor Eric C Kerrigan at Imperial College London (ICL) and co-led by Dr Paola Falugi (UEL) and Professor Goran Strbac (ICL). It aims to develop distributed, data-driven solutions to coordinate groups of buildings in real time, supporting energy grid stability and improving carbon efficiency.

Buildings account for around 40% of the UK’s energy use and carbon emissions. This project addresses that challenge by exploring how adaptive control, real-time monitoring, and behavioural modelling can help dynamically form coalitions of buildings that support robust and efficient grid operation.

As a Research Associate, you will:

• Contribute to the development of distributed optimisation methods and advanced control strategies.

• Collaborate closely with project partners, including UK Power Networks and SSE Energy Solutions.

• Work from UEL’s Docklands campus with regular travel to ICL and other stakeholder sites as required.

• Disseminate findings through high-impact publications and presentations.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Paola Falugi at p.falugi@uel.ac.uk 

About You

We are looking for a candidate with a strong academic and research background in one or more of the following areas:

• Distributed optimisation

• Data-driven modelling

• Control systems

• Smart grid and building energy systems

You will possess a PhD (or be near completion) in a relevant field such as Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Applied Mathematics, or Computer Science. You will have demonstrable experience in conducting high-quality research, with a strong publication record and a keen interest in applying your expertise to real-world challenges in energy systems.

Essential criteria:

• Strong background in distributed optimisation, control theory, or data-driven modelling.

• Experience with modelling and simulation of energy or building systems.

• Excellent programming skills (e.g., MATLAB, Python, or similar tools).

• Proven ability to write research papers and deliver presentations to academic and industry audiences.

• Strong interpersonal and project coordination skills.