Research Assistant: Hierarchical Material Intensities

Job Description

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• Please wait... Job Title: Research Assistant: Hierarchical Material Intensities Posting Start Date: 15/06/2026 Job Id: 2672 School/Department: Mechanical, Aerospace \& Civil Engineering Work Arrangement: Full Time (Hybrid) Contract Type: Fixed-term Salary per annum (£): 32,080.00 - 36,636.00 Closing Date: 23/07/2026 The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Overview

BuildZero is a £6 million project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) that will develop a detailed vision of more sustainable building practices. This five-year project led by University of Sheffield in partnership with the Universities of Bath, Manchester, Cardiff and Cambridge, in addition to a range of industrial collaborators will consider options for developing methods for building without extracting new resources, eliminating waste and reducing carbon emissions from material extraction and production. It 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 built environment is a major resource consumer, produces around 60% of the UK’s waste and is responsible for approximately 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions. However, it also holds a vast stock of materials with reuse potential, making it a strong candidate for a circular economy. Working with a range of stakeholders, the consortium will co-develop visions of sustainable building futures to shape what solutions are desired, acceptable and inclusive, while exploring the impact of these solutions to get us to a circular economy with zero carbon emissions.

The successful candidate will develop specification and product level material intensities that are representative of the UK’s buildings. They will also be an integral member of the large, multidisciplinary BuildZero project team, and will contribute to wider project tasks, events, and outputs.

Further information can be found at https://www.buildzero.ac.uk/

Main duties and responsibilities

• Quantifying typical ranges for the material intensity, embodied carbon and reuse potential of different building products and typical construction specifications across building layers - with a particular focus on the skin, services and fit-out.
• Analysing existing building drawings to estimate material intensities.
• Working with the wider research team to scale building-level material quantities, embodied carbon and reuse potentials to the neighbourhood, city and national level, knowledge of python coding here would be beneficial.
• Visualising results to clearly communicate findings to different stakeholders, this will include use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Working with the wider research team in preparing research papers for journal publication and associated conference papers/presentations.
• Planning a research schedule to ensure personal milestones within the project are met.
• Work in close collaboration with other members of the BuildZero project team, including effective engagement with industrial, commercial and public project stakeholders.
• Participate in, and present progress reports at a variety of BuildZero related team meetings and events.
• Undergo appropriate personal and professional development.
• Undertake other tasks associated with the research project, including planning and organisation project tasks and implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person SpecificationOur diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Have (or be in the final year of) an undergraduate degree in a relevant built environment discipline, including civil/structural engineering, architecture, architectural engineering or adjacent discipline.

Essential

Application \& Interview

Experience of conducting material inventories, embodied carbon \& whole life carbon assessments of the built environment.

Essential

Application \& Interview

Knowledge of how to interpret building plans/sections/elevations.

Essential

Application \& Interview

Ability to assess and organise resources, and plan and progress work activities.

Essential

Application \& Interview

Effective written and oral communication skills.

Essential

Application \& Interview

Proficient using Microsoft Excel.

Essential

Application \& Interview

Experience using Python or other coding languages.

Desirable

Application \& Interview

Experience using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for data analysis and visualisation.

Desirable

Application \& Interview

Further Information

Grade

6

Salary

£32,080 – £36,636

Work arrangement

Full- time

Duration

One year

Line manager

BuildZero Project Lead

Direct reports

N/A

Our website

https://www.buildzero.ac.uk/

For informal enquiries about this job contact Dani Densley Tingley, Professor of Circular Construction: [email protected] or Gillian Callaghan, BuildZero Programme Manager: [email protected].

Next steps in the recruitment process It is anticipated that the selection process will take place the week commencing 3rd August. This will consist of an interview and test. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 27th July. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [email protected].

Our vision and strategic plan We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().

What we offer * A minimum of 38days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more. * Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles. * Generous pension scheme. * A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel. * A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks). * Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role. * A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways. * A range of generous family-friendly policies + paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies + access to menopause support in the workplace + paid time off and support for fertility treatment + and more

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.

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