Research Associate/Fellow (735133)

The Researcher will work with community organisations, businesses, local authorities and Governments across the UK to understand how systems approaches can unlock sustainable Net Zero solutions at scale, break down the barriers to action and empower communities to take ownership of solutions that support their development.

FTE: 1 (35 hours/week)

Term: Fixed Term (36 months)

The Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities (SISC) welcomes applications for the position of Research Associate/Fellow*, to join the UKRI funded Integrated Systems Approaches for Accelerating a Just Transition (JUST-Systems) project. JUST-Systems is led by the University of Aberdeen and brings together six leading Universities along with community organisations, businesses, local authorities and Governments across the UK to understand how systems approaches can unlock sustainable Net Zero solutions at scale, break down the barriers to action and empower communities to take ownership of solutions that support their development.

We are seeking applicants who will contribute to both the delivery of the JUST-Systems project and the development of SISC. We are keen to receive applications from candidates with a growing national and/or international reputation for research in the sustainability space, alongside a passion for translating social science research into useful learning and wider impact. Applicants should evidence their alignment to the University values: people oriented, collaborative, ambitious, innovative and bold.

The Research Associate/Fellow will support the delivery of a variety of critical research tasks to deliver the JUST-Systems programme on time and to budget. They will take a leading role in the delivery of the East Ayrshire case study that focuses on the place-based solutions for net-zero and a just transition that are being employed as part of the Community Renewable Energy (CoRE) Project (one of several projects funded by the Ayrshire Growth Deal) as well as leading work on research as part of Work Package 4 - Systems Solutions and Just Transitions to explore potential routes forward for scaling-up place-based solutions across broader scales and contexts.

The Research Associate/Fellow will work closely with the University of Strathclyde and the wider academic JUST-Systems team, to design and implement analysis of the case study, including documentary analysis, interviews and workshops on place-based understanding of Just Transition and critical systems analysis. Whilst focused primarily on qualitative research methods, the role will also include collaborating with the energy systems modelling teams to ensure the social science analysis is aligned with systems modelling, to develop evidence-based pathways that inform implementation and policy. The role will focus significant effort on field work, participatory approaches and stakeholder engagement with the opportunity to engage widely across the project teams and UK case studies.

The Research Associate/Fellow will involve regular travel within Scotland (particularly East Ayrshire) and UK travel, including the annual science meetings, training events and key engagements such as policy engagement and expert workshops. While this is primarily a social science role, we are seeking a candidate who has interest and capability in interdisciplinary research and can undertake dialogue and research activity across disciplines such as geography, policy, energy systems and engineering, humanities and sociology. An important part of the role will be to support the establishment and growth of SISC, involving the design and operation of core activities and structures.

Formal interviews to be held on the 18/09/2025.

Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Professor Matthew Hannon (matthew.hannon@strath.ac.uk).

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