Research Associate (815672)

Salary Range: £37,694 - £46,049

FTE: 1 (35 hours/week)

Term: Fixed Term (24 months)

Closing Date: 12/07/2026

This position is part of the EPSRC Manufacturing Research Hub in Resource-Enabled Sustainable Circular Automation

Manufacturing (RESCU-M2), which involves 7 UK research institutions and 35 stakeholder organisations. The 7-year

duration project aims to make the UK world leading in circular manufacturing by creating a manufacturing ecosystem for

circular resource use of high value products through the unlocking of advances in AI, Robotics and Intelligent Automation.

This particular post is concerned with delivering innovations to enable the design of products with minimal life cycle

impacts. It will explore the application of emerging technologies such as Chatbots to enable effective decision towards this

aim. It will also assist in the development of circular business models.

Understanding of sustainability and appreciation of strategies such as Re-X processes (repair, reconditioning,

remanufacturing etc) and their potential impacts on sustainability and the circular economy (CE) is required. Ability to

work effectively individually and in teams with a wide range of interdisciplinary stakeholders from industry and academia is

required. Proven effective communication skills both written and oral are also required. Understanding and use of

emerging technologies is required as the post will require expertise in environmental impacts assessment and

development of an AI tools.

As a Research Associate, under the general guidance of a research leader, you will develop research objectives and

proposals, play a lead role in relation to a specific project/s or part of a broader project, conduct individual and/or

collaborative research, contribute to the development of new research methods, identify sources of funding, and

contribute to the securing of funds for research, including drafting grant proposals and planning for future proposals. You

will write up research work for publication, individually or in collaboration with colleagues, and disseminate the results via

peer reviewed journal publications and presentation at conferences. You will join external networks to share information

and ideas, inform the development of research objectives and to identify potential sources of funding. You will collaborate

with colleagues to ensure that research advances inform departmental teaching effort and you will collaborate with

colleagues on the development of knowledge exchange activities by, for example, participating in initiatives which establish

research links with industry and influence public policy and the professions. You will supervise student projects, provide

advice to students and contribute to teaching as required by, for example, running tutorials and supervising practical

work. You will contribute in a developing capacity to Department/School, Faculty and/or University administrative and

management functions and committees and engage in continuous professional development.

You will have sufficient breadth or depth of knowledge in sustainable manufacturing and ability to conduct individual

research work, to disseminate results, and to prepare research proposals. You will have ability to plan and organise your

own workload effectively and also work within a team environment. You will have excellent interpersonal and

communication skills, with the ability to listen, engage and persuade, and to present complex information in an accessible

way to a range of audiences. Capability for academic writing, experience of student supervision and teaching activities is

required for this post.

Whilst not essential for the role, applications are welcomed from candidates with relevant membership of

Chartered/professional bodies (including the Higher Education Academy) and relevant work experience and/or

experience of knowledge exchange related activities.

Formal interviews for this post will be held in July 2026.

Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Winifred Ijomah, Professor (View email address on strathvacancies.engageats.co.uk).