Research Fellow in LCA and Land use modelling

The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research. 

We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ourselves into one of the best universities in the world, which we are achieving through the talents and endeavour of every employee.  

Our culture empowers people to achieve this aim and to collectively, and individually, make a real difference.  

The Centre of Environment and Sustainability (CES) is an internationally-acclaimed centre of excellence on sustainable development. With the further launch of the pan-faculty Institute for Sustainability in 2022, there has never been a more exciting time to be involved in sustainability-centred research at the University of Surrey.

The role

The Centre for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Surrey is seeking to recruit a full-time postdoctoral Research Fellow in LCA and Land use modelling to work under the leadership of Dr Zoe M Harris and Dr James Suckling.

You will join an interdisciplinary team on the newly awarded BBSRC project “Vertical Farming to Improve UK Food System Resilience (VF-UKFSR)”. This project is looking to understand the role Vertical Farming can play in supporting UK food system resilience. You will lead on the development of a land use and land sparing model, underpinned by life cycle assessment data of vertical farms. Working with an extensive network of commercial partners, the postholder will be expected to gather data on the operations of these farms and undertake sustainability assessments. Using this underpinning data, model development will allow us to understand what land may be spared using vertical farming, and what additional benefits may be derived form this land, such as food production, afforestation, bioenergy production etc.

The outputs from this work will be integrated with socio-economic modelling, systems-based risk mapping and work on social acceptance to form a roadmap to support policy and industry in understanding the role of vertical farming in the UK food system.

About you

The successful candidate will have a strong research background and should have a PhD in environmental science, with experience in modelling and data analysis and a publication track record. You will be passionate about sustainability and excited by the prospect of working with a large interdisciplinary team of researchers, with close links to industry.

Additionally, we are looking for candidate with good communication and interpersonal skills, and an interest in developing research supervision/management skills.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please upload a CV and cover letter with your application on the University of Surrey Website. 

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Zoe M Harris at z.harris@surrey.ac.uk  

Please note the university reserves the right to close this vacancy early based on Volume and Calibre of applications.

Interview will be held on Tuesday 29th April.

The Centre of Environment and Sustainability (CES) is an internationally-acclaimed centre of excellence on sustainable development, at the core of the pan-university Institute for Sustainability. 

Working together, CES and the Institute are  driving the University’s research and innovation in priority areas of sustainability research. Through inter- and transdisciplinary collaborations across faculties, and business and external partner engagement, we are breaking new ground to produce world-class research and effecting significant change for the long-term wellbeing for all.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and would be open to consider part-time applicants. If you would be interested in the role on a part time basis please specify this in your cover letter

Closing Date: 10 Apr 2025

Area: Research & Teaching

Salary: £37,174 to £45,413 per annum Fixed Term until 30/09/2026