Research Assistant/Postdoctoral Research Associate in Energy Transition and Finance

Role : Research Assistant/Postdoctoral Research Associate in Energy Transition and Finance

Grade and Salary : Grade 6 - £31,236 - £36,636 / Grade 7, £37,694 - £43,482 per annum

FTE and working pattern : Full Time (1FTE, part-time arrangements may also be considered). Fixed Term for 18 months, with the potential for extension.

Reward and Benefits : 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full-time staff.

Detailed Description

Decarbonising heat is one of the most critical challenges in the transition to net zero. The Sustainable Open-loop Large-scale Interseasonal Thermochemical Heat Storage (SOLIS) project is an EPSRC-funded Critical Mass Programme focused on developing innovative, scalable and cost-effective solutions for long-duration interseasonal heat storage technologies to balance renewable energy availability with seasonal heat demand.

SOLIS brings together an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Liverpool, University of Edinburgh, University College London and Heriot-Watt University, alongside industrial and public-sector partners. The project combines technological innovation in thermochemical heat storage with a whole-systems approach to understand the economic, financial, institutional and policy conditions required for successful deployment and scale-up.

Here at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, we are seeking to appoint up to two highly motivated and talented researchers to join the SOLIS consortium. These roles offer an exciting opportunity to conduct research at the nexus of energy transition, sustainable finance, business model innovation, and systems thinking, contributing to the development and evaluation of commercially viable, investable and scalable pathways for long-duration heat storage and heat networks.

The successful candidates will be expected to work regularly on campus at Heriot-Watt University. Fully remote working is not available.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Research & Analysis

• Undertake whole-systems, value-chain and transition analysis to understand the actors, relationships, interdependencies, barriers and enabling conditions influencing technology deployment and scale-up.
• Design and undertake mixed-methods research, combining qualitative stakeholder engagement (e.g., interviews, workshops) with quantitative techno-economic and financial analysis.
• Develop and evaluate business models, financing and investment strategies, risk-allocation approaches, and commercialisation pathways for long-duration heat storage and heat networks.
• Formulate practical decision frameworks, scenario models, and toolkits for local authorities, private investors, utilities, and infrastructure planners.
• Lead and co-author high-quality academic journal papers, industry reports, policy briefings, and other stakeholder-facing outputs.

Consortium, Engagement & Academic Contribution

• Work closely with academic, industry and public-sector partners across the SOLIS consortium to coordinate research activities and deliver project milestones.
• Lead and contribute to stakeholder interviews, participatory workshops and other engagement activities, and represent the SOLIS consortium at relevant events.
• Assist with the supervision of student project work and provide day-to-day research support where appropriate.
• Contribute to teaching activities as required.
• Contribute to funding proposals and grant applications to secure follow-on research funding.
• Undertake other duties reasonably requested by project leaders, commensurate with the nature and grade of the post.

Essential Criteria

1. Qualifications: A PhD (awarded or near completion) in Sustainable Finance, Energy Economics, Business/Management, Energy Policy, Sustainability Transitions, or a closely related discipline.
2. Relevant Research Expertise: A strong research background in one or more of the following areas: sustainable finance and infrastructure investment; energy economics and finance; energy business models, innovation and commercialisation; energy policy and governance; systems thinking; or sustainability transitions.
3. Research Methods: Demonstrate experience in designing and conducting rigorous qualitative and quantitative research, including the collection and analysis of primary and secondary data.
4. Track Record: Evidence of high-quality publications commensurate with career stage, alongside policy- or practitioner-facing outputs.
5. Communication & Engagement: Excellent written, oral and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex research effectively to academic and non-academic audiences and to engage confidently with a wide range of stakeholders.
6. Initiative & Leadership: Evidence of initiative and leadership potential, with the ability to take ownership of research activities, coordinate work involving multiple stakeholders, manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work to agreed timescales.
7. Independent & Collaborative Working: Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively within a diverse interdisciplinary team and to build effective working relationships with academic, industrial and public-sector partners.

Desirable Criteria

1. Energy-Sector Experience: Research or professional experience relating to energy systems, heat decarbonisation, energy storage, or district heating.
2. Systems & Value-Chain Approaches: Familiarity with systems-thinking, systems mapping, supply- or value-chain analysis, transition analysis, scenario analysis or related whole-systems approaches.
3. UK Energy Landscape: Knowledge of the UK policy, regulatory and funding landscape for energy infrastructure.
4. External Stakeholder Experience: Experience engaging with local authorities, utilities, or industry/finance partners.

For informal enquiries about the role, please contact Professor Bing Xu:

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers

Use our total rewards calculator: to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

About Heriot-Watt University

At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

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