Research Assistant/Research Associate (Fixed Term)

The Cambridge Sustainable Design Group within the Department of Architecture invites applications for the role of Research Assistant/Associate in Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing for Decarbonisation of the Built Environment. The role holder will be working with Professor Ronita Bardhan and support an exciting and high-impact research project funded by the UK Space Agency's National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP). The position is full-time and fixed-term until 31 March 2027.

This interdisciplinary project is conducted in collaboration with the Department of Plant Sciences and other industry partners. The aim is to develop novel methodologies for thermal infrared (TIR) earth observation to support urban decarbonisation and improve the energy performance of buildings. The successful candidate will play a central role in developing, testing, and validating cutting-edge techniques that use TIR imagery from drone platforms and earth observation satellites to quantify building heat loss, develop indoor overheating models and inform retrofit strategies across different urban morphologies and building typologies for building decarbonisation.

The role holder's key responsibilities include:

• Contribute to the work package on monitoring and simulation of neighbourhood-level energy performance using aerial thermography and ground-based measurements.
• Develop ML/AI based building heat transfer and loss, indoor overheating models by integrating TIR imagery with energy flux data, building physics parameters, and local weather conditions.
• Apply machine learning techniques for TIR and other open-source image analysis, built environment characterisation, and predictive energy use modelling.
• Build a repository of urban form and energy performance indicators from TIR data.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a high profile, a pioneering initiative to develop novel built environment models and stock datasets from new optical space technology that will help tackle the challenge of creating a zero-carbon future.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on holding a PhD. If the candidate is yet to receive their PhD award, they will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 March 2027 in the first instance.

In order for your application to be considered, please upload the following: 

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Cover Letter
• A list of publications (if any)
• Names and contact details of two referees who are familiar with your work

Informal enquiries about the role are welcomed and should be directed to Professor Ronita Bardhan on rb867@cam.ac.uk. Questions on the application process should be directed to the School's HR Team on sahhr@admin.cam.ac.uk.

The closing date for applications is midnight (GMT) on Tuesday 9 December 2025. Interviews are planned for December 2025/January 2026, subject to change.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above.

Please quote reference GC47904 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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