Research Assistant

Unlocking the Future of Sustainable Building with Biochar! 

We’re thrilled to announce the groundbreaking £0.8M project, “Advancing the Use of Biochar in the Building Industry: A Multi-Stakeholder Study”, funded by the UKRI Cross Research Council Responsive Mode (CRCRM) Scheme. Spearheaded by the prestigious research teams at Heriot-Watt University, Aston University, and the University of Birmingham, this innovative project is set to revolutionize sustainable building practices.

What’s in store?

Discover the Power of Biochar: A game-changing material with the potential to transform the building industry, offering a wealth of commercial, environmental, and health benefits.Boost Carbon Reduction: Explore how biochar cementitious composites can significantly reduce energy use and carbon emissions across various building types.Real Environmental Impact: Conduct a life cycle analysis of biochar composites to unlock carbon credits and further environmental advantages.Create Holistic Value: Co-create qualitative and quantitative indicators with industry stakeholders to express the full potential of biochar in low-carbon construction.A Blueprint for the Future: Develop a decision support framework to help the building industry seamlessly integrate biochar into their projects, with transferrable insights for other materials.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration at Its Best!This project brings together experts from civil engineering, building modelling, and social science to explore new horizons in low-carbon construction. Stakeholder collaboration is key to ensuring biochar's value is realized across the industry.

The advertised position is for a researcher to work with Professor Dulini Fernando (and the rest of the team members) on:

Developing and expediting a methodology for stakeholder engagement throughout the project lifecycle.Developing qualitative and quantitative indicators to express the value of biochar in buildings via a stakeholder methodologyCollecting, analysing and presenting data related to stakeholders at all phases of the projectDelivering a decision support framework for adopting biochar within the building industryWorking in close collaboration with all of the team members 

What we offer:

Aston University is a vibrant campus located within Birmingham city centre, which has excellent transport links via bus or train. Hybrid working is possible for this role, which means working both on campus and from home depending on the activity. Further information on hybrid working can be found here. Excellent training and development opportunities.

The salary being offered for this role does not meet the minimum threshold required to sponsor new applicants to the Skilled Worker visa route. For candidates who do not already have a Skilled Worker visa, it is unlikely that Aston University will be able to offer sponsorship under this route. Please click here to see the Home Office guidance for more information.

If you are already in the UK with an existing Tier 2 or Skilled Worker visa, please contact hr_immigration@aston.ac.uk to discuss if the role will meet the eligibility criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship.

For more information in regards to this role please Contact Professor Dulini Fernando on d.fernando2@aston.ac.uk for questions

Closing Date: 28 Mar 2025

Unit: Teaching & Research

Salary: £33,232 to £35,880 per annum