Research Assistant or Research Fellow in Hydrogen Economics Modelling

School of Water, Energy and Environment

Energy and Sustainability / Centre for Energy Systems and Strategy

Research Assistant or Research Fellow in Hydrogen Economics Modelling

Fixed Term Contract for 36 months

Research Assistant (if close to completing PhD)

£34,450 per annum

Research Fellow (if PhD obtained)

£37,337 per annum

Location: Cranfield, Bedfordshire

How can markets facilitate or hinder the development of a global hydrogen ecosystem? How do national aspirations and global dynamics interact and influence each other?

The International Energy Agency highlights the importance of demand measures to stimulate low-emission hydrogen use. Come and join the Global Hydrogen Production Technologies (HyPT) Center to create a step change in the development of hydrogen economy and the pace of decarbonisation of energy system globally.

About the Role

HyPT seeks to accelerate the development of net zero hydrogen technologies and ecosystems in a sustainable and just manner. You will be joining the global HyPT center to support the work programme on policies, economics, and markets. You will be developing economic models to develop recommendations for the design of policies in support of net-zero hydrogen technologies and systems across the four founding countries of the centre, cognisant of the international perspectives. You will be assessing the implications of these policies on communities across local, regional and national scales, as well as contributing to analysis of scaling up of net zero hydrogen technologies, using technology innovation systems framework in collaboration with local teams in each country. It is expected that you will be travelling to the partner countries to take part in collaborative meetings or to undertake research activities.

The Global Hydrogen Production Technologies Center (HyPT) is a multidisciplinary and multi-institute project with £14.1million funding from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the National Science Foundation (USA), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Australia) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Canada). The UK funding (£6.2 million) comes via Building a Green Future Fund and International Science Partnerships Fund. HyPT is led in the UK by Cranfield University in collaboration with Arizona State University (USA), the University of Toronto (Canada), and the University of Adelaide (Australia).

The UK project team involves academics from Imperial College London, Newcastle University, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Birmingham who are involved in the development of net zero technologies. It is expected that you will be working closely with them in developing an understanding of characteristics and market requirements of net zero hydrogen technologies.

About You

You will be educated to doctoral level (or close to completion) in the development and use of empirical economic models to address different policy objectives. You will have experience of working with quantitative datasets pertaining energy markets. With excellent communication skills, you will have a solid understanding of market mechanisms for a just energy transition.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

Cranfield’s expertise in energy and power covers a wide range of potential energy solutions, from our ongoing relationship with oil and gas, to our developing reliance on renewable energy from the world around us. The changing energy landscape presents exciting opportunities and the potential for the UK to lead in new technologies and services related to low carbon energy and sustainability generation. Learn more about Energy and Sustainability

The Centre for Energy Systems and Strategy (CESS) is a hub for leading-edge research, teaching and consultancy that helps individuals, businesses and policy makers by modelling and analysing the requirements and needs of the energy and power consumers and the underlying infrastructure systems using socio-technical frameworks.

A particular focus of the CESS is the development of tools and methods to inform the trade-offs associated with transition to a net zero economy, ranging from households to city to national levels. All our research and teaching activities can be categorised in three broad themes:

• Digitisation of energy systems
• Infrastructure system planning and operation
• Socio-technical aspects of energy transitions

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme.We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply                                   

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Prof Nazmiye Ozkan, Chair in Sustainable Energy Transitions and Head of Centre for Energy Systems and Strategy, on (T): +44 (0)1234 75 4296 or (E): n.ozkan@cranfield.ac.uk.

Apply online now. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: hrrecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk. Please quote reference number 4741.

Closing date for receipt of applications:   18 February 2024

Interviews to be held: 27 February 2024

www.cranfield.ac.uk