Research Assistant / Research Associate in Energy System Resilience

Company description:

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

Job description:

Salary:  

Research Assistant: £32,546 to £34,132 per annum 

Research Associate: £35,116 to £37,174 per annum

The Role

This post will deliver research and impact related to two EPSRC funded projects: ResTOrES (Resilience Toolkit for Offshore Energy Systems) and RENEW (Climate Resilient Heat Electrification for Net-Zero Emission Whole Energy).

The ResTOrES project will develop, test, and demonstrate a prototype resilience assessment toolkit for offshore energy systems. The toolkit will enable the quantification of resilience in terms of appropriate metrics during both standard operation (primarily governed by system reliability) and extreme events (primarily governed by robustness and restoration). This will be achieved by building on previous research which combined efficient optimization and sequential reliability assessment. The project is funded through an EPSRC call to accelerate research outcomes to achieve a prosperous net-zero and is supported by industrial and government partners including Equinor, Ofgem, and Kinewell Energy.

RENEW brings together experts from Newcastle University, Brunel University London, and Imperial College London to enhance the UK’s energy system resilience through a whole-system analysis approach. Building on the proven WeSIM model, RENEW will upgrade its capabilities to incorporate electrified district heating and simulate the impacts of extreme weather using future-looking climate-based projections. It aims to identify cost-effective, climate-resilient investment pathways for the GB’s whole energy system. The project is supported by national and regional stakeholders, including the Association for Decentralised Energy, Birmingham Energy Institute, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, Energy Demand Research Centre, Met Office, Newcastle City Council and Northern Powergrid.

Your core responsibilities will also involve contributing to the broader research activities on power and energy systems within the Electrical Power group. You will have the opportunity to contribute to other, strategic EPSRC projects such as the Supergen Energy Networks Hub and Energy the Demand Research Centre. Other collaboration and research opportunities will be available, such as through the Centre for Energy.

The post is full time, fixed term for 24 months. We aim to hold interviews in early June. A start date as close to 1st July 2025 is preferred although a later start can be discussed. You will be based in the newly renovated Stephenson building, located on Newcastle University’s campus in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.

To apply, please upload a CV (academic style, 2 pages plus a publication list) and a cover letter (1 page A4). These should detail how your experience meets the requirements outlined in the job description and your interest in the role.

For more information or informal enquiries, please contact Dr David Greenwood, david.greenwood@newcastle.ac.uk (ResTOrES) or Dr Shahab Dehghan shahab.dehghan@newcastle.ac.uk (RENEW).

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