Research Assistant

About the Role
This role supports a multidisciplinary research programme focused on healthcare waste management, sustainability and decarbonisation within the NHS. Working under the supervision of Dr Xiangyu Michael Jie, the successful candidate will assist data collection and research activities across the project consortium, undertake research on NHS waste-management practices, policy development and implementation, and investigate opportunities to reduce waste-related carbon emissions.

The role will include data management and analysis, literature and policy review, stakeholder engagement, and supporting the development of evidence-based recommendations to improve resource efficiency, circularity and progress towards NHS net-zero and decarbonisation goals.

About You
You will have a relevant degree and experience in policy research, health systems, sustainability, healthcare waste management or a related field. Experience of analysing policy and supporting its implementation is particularly important, together with the ability to engage effectively with NHS organisations, healthcare professionals and other project stakeholders.

A strong understanding of the NHS healthcare system, its sustainability priorities, waste-management practices and net-zero/decarbonisation goals would be highly desirable. You should also be comfortable working with quantitative and/or qualitative data, coordinating activities across multidisciplinary teams, and translating research evidence into practical recommendations that can support policy and operational change.

About the School
The School of Physical and Chemical Sciences (SPCS) at Queen Mary University of London is a large, multidisciplinary and research-intensive school within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

The School has a diverse and active community, with over 900 undergraduate students, more than 100 postgraduate taught students, around 115 postgraduate researchers, and approximately 150 academic and professional staff. It fosters a highly collaborative culture, working across faculties and with industry partners and external stakeholders.

SPCS is primarily based at the Mile End campus, with facilities in the G.O. Jones and J. Priestley buildings that include advanced laboratories, workshops, and shared study and social spaces. Teaching is also delivered at the London City Institute of Technology and internationally in partnership with Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT) in Hainan, China.

About Queen Mary
At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits
We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed-term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and campus facilities.

Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. We are open to considering applications from candidates wishing to work flexibly.

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