Research Fellow

Full time/ fixed term for 2 years

About the Role

As a Research Fellow in Innovation, Creative Practice and Venture Development, you will support the delivery of the UKRI-funded Entrepreneurship, Art and Science for Environmental Sustainability (EASE) project. EASE brings together climate scientists, artists, entrepreneurs and cultural institutions to develop new, scalable approaches to climate communication that are scientifically robust, emotionally resonant and socially impactful.

You will join the Centre for Business and Industry Transformation (CBIT), a rapidly growing research and innovation centre within Nottingham Business School focused on measurable business, industry and societal impact through applied research, venture building and personalised education.

Advanced AI capability is central to this role and to the delivery of EASE. We are looking for someone whose use of AI goes well beyond simple prompting or basic LLM use. You will be expected to demonstrate advanced, practical and responsible use of AI across the full range of EASE activities, including interdisciplinary research, literature and evidence synthesis, creative ideation, venture-building, prototype development, pilot design, evaluation, impact modelling, stakeholder engagement and the production of high-quality project outputs.

You will use AI-enabled tools and workflows to help translate early-stage interdisciplinary ideas into viable, testable and scalable models. This may include using AI to support opportunity mapping, user and stakeholder insight, value proposition development, scenario testing, audience analysis, experiment design, rapid prototyping, pilot planning, qualitative and quantitative analysis, synthesis of feedback, visualisation, reporting and the development of toolkits, methods and impact assets.

You will need to apply appropriate academic judgement when using AI, including transparency, data governance, ethics and research integrity. As part of the interview process, candidates will be asked to demonstrate live how they use AI to facilitate research, innovation and project delivery activity relevant to EASE.

In this role, you will support structured innovation and design processes within EASE, helping to translate interdisciplinary ideas into clear, testable and scalable prototype models. Working closely with colleagues in CBIT, Nottingham Design School and external creative, cultural and community partners, you will contribute to prototype development, evaluation frameworks, project reporting, toolkits, publications and stakeholder-facing outputs.

You will bring strong research capability, excellent organisation and communication skills, and the ability to work across business innovation, creative practice, sustainability and impact. You will have a strong interest in AI-empowered research and innovation, and the confidence to apply AI-supported tools in complex interdisciplinary settings.

Interview date: TBC

About Us

Nottingham Business School (NBS) delivers research and education that combine academic excellence with real-world impact on people, business, and society.

We lead in experiential learning and personalised education, and our research drives positive change across social and economic spheres. This informs all our programmes, from undergraduate to doctoral.

With strong partnerships across business, public, and voluntary sectors, NBS is known as the business school for business. We hold the prestigious Triple Crown Accreditation (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA), placing us in the top 1% of business schools worldwide. Discover more on our website.

At NTU, we do things differently. Join one of Europe’s largest and most innovative business schools to help shape inclusive research and make a real difference.

For any informal queries about the role or the team, please contact Xiao Mo Professor and Director of Centre for Business Transformation at xiao.ma@ntu.ac.uk

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