Applications are invited for the above position, ideally starting in October 2025, although a slightly earlier or later start date is possible to accommodate flexible or part-time working. The post-holder will join the £6m BuildZero consortium funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
The BuildZero Programme envisions a UK building stock with zero new raw material extraction, zero emissions and zero waste. Currently, buildings and infrastructure are responsible for over 40 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions, produce over 60 per cent of the UK’s waste, and consume approximately 50 per cent of all extracted materials globally. To eliminate these impacts, significant and system-wide changes are required. The construction sector’s economic activity by value focuses predominantly on new work rather than on retrofitting and repurposing, the mainstay of the circular economy. Improving the commercial appeal of circular economy in buildings would require new ownership models focused on service delivery, new supply chains and customer demand. However, the notions of what is viable might be upended by the disruptions that the sector is facing from digitalisation, new materials and sustainability requirements, which could further reinforce stakeholders’ risky perceptions of circular business models. The work led by the Tyndall Centre at the University of Manchester will evaluate and quantify the economic viability of circular economy measures and of associated business models.
We are looking for a person comfortable with quantitative research methods, such as economic feasibility assessment and techno-economic modelling, while appreciating how insights from qualitative research can inform this work.
The post-holder will be based within an interdisciplinary and collegiate team of researchers at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in the University of Manchester, and work closely with the consortium partners. We seek applicants with a passion for research and a demonstrable skill to work in a highly interdisciplinary environment. Aligned with the Tyndall Centre’s mission, you will contribute towards the research team’s efforts to conduct research with genuine impact on policy and practice, and to publish in the very highest quality journals (indicatively, these might be Nature Climate Change, Nature Energy, and Journal of Environmental Science & Policy). This is a 30-month post in the first instance, with a possibility of extension.
More detailed information about the responsibilities of the post and selection criteria can be found in the ‘Further Particulars’ document attached at the bottom of this advert.
BuildZero Programme
BuildZero, a five-year £6 million programme funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will develop a detailed vision of more sustainable building practices. It is led by Sheffield in partnership with the University of Bath, The University of Manchester, Cardiff University, the University of Cambridge and industrial collaborators.
The circular economy is a widely-recognised opportunity to reduce both resource consumption and carbon emissions. In a circular economy, materials are kept at the highest value possible, for example retrofitting buildings and repurposing buildings to extend their lifespans.
In the past, circular economy examples for the building sector have mostly focused on case studies of individual buildings or recycling of individual materials, which misses the opportunity for making changes to the wider system. BuildZero aims to present a larger-scale, systems-level approach to making changes in the construction sector.
The BuildZero Programme will consider the options for developing methods for building without extracting new resources, eliminating waste and reducing carbon emissions from material extraction and production. The Programme will assess the extent to which the vision for a circular economy is achievable at regional and national level, and will provide a platform for demonstrating these solutions at scale.
The Programme will use methods from across several disciplines, including architecture, structural engineering, materials science and social sciences to understand the existing building stock, resource and waste flows, social attitudes and economics surrounding potential circular economy business models for the construction sector.
The research will culminate in a range of demonstrator projects, interactive tools, detailed strategies and ultimately a series of pathways to achieve the BuildZero vision of a UK building stock with zero new raw material extraction, zero emissions and zero waste.
Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Tyndall Manchester conducts interdisciplinary research in the fields of energy, decarbonisation, circular economy, and climate change mitigation. Based in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Tyndall Manchester also enjoys excellent links to departments across the University including the Alliance Manchester Business School, the Sustainable Consumption Institute, and the Dalton Nuclear Institute.
The post holder will be part of the Tyndall Manchester team, which brings together engineers, scientists, social scientists and economists, working together to develop sustainable responses to climate change through interdisciplinary research and dialogue at a local and national level. The post will provide the researcher with a direct link to the Tyndall community and various Tyndall projects, and allow the researcher to be part of a supportive team.
The School is committed to Athena SWAN principles, promotes gender equality and diversity throughout the School. Applications are particularly welcomed from women and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants. All appointments are made on merit.
What you will get in return:
As an equal opportunities employer we support an inclusive working environment and welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.
Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here
Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.
Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.
Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.
Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:
Name: Prof Maria Sharmina
Email: maria.sharmina@manchester.ac.uk
General enquiries:
Email: People.recruitment@manchester.ac.uk
Technical support:
https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home
This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.
Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.
Please be aware that due to the number of applications we are unfortunately not able to provide individual feedback on your application.
