Research Fellow in Building Physics

Job Description

Research Fellow in Building Physics: Grade: 7 (£47,186- £55,099) FTE: 1 (36.5 hours/week)

Department: Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources (Energy Institute): Location: Bloomsbury / hybrid working This is an open-ended role dependent on the availability of continued funding. In the first instance, the funds are available until 31 December 2027. Continuation of employment beyond this period is subject to securing additional funding.

Reports to

Energy Demand Observatory and Laboratory (EDOL) and Smart Energy Research Group (SERG) Leads

Context

The UCL Energy Institute has a vision of a sustainable, resilient and low-carbon future.

Our mission is to deliver world-leading research, expertise, and training to support the transition to sustainable and adaptable energy systems.

We tackle the climate crisis by addressing real-world energy challenges across buildings, transport, and energy systems. Using whole-system modelling, data-driven research, and scenario analysis, we inform robust, evidence-based solutions for decision-makers at every level.

Our work supports governments, industry, and communities in developing effective and practical pathways to decarbonisation — from cities and regions to the global scale.

We are interdisciplinary, collaborative, and impact-driven — committed to creating a low-carbon future through innovation, education, and engagement.

Main purpose of the job

• The main purpose of this role is to undertake energy demand research using EDOL data and to develop a range of data analysis, data quality, data linking and other data management processes to ensure EDOL data is research-ready and fit for purpose.
• As a core member of the EDOL team, this post will undertake research across the EDOL research programme and provide key input to the design and development of EDOL research data resources. As such, this role will be required to engage with EDOL partners (particularly the EDOL team at the University of Oxford) and Exeter, and a range of EDOL stakeholders (including DESNZ and other government departments).

Duties and responsibilities

The post holder will be expected to provide key input across a range of EDOL work streams, including:

• Undertaking research connected to the EDOL research programme
• Working collaboratively with the EDOL team to manage and deliver data resources including developing data quality and analytical processes
• Publishing and presenting research findings
• Contributing to the policy debate on transitions to a sustainable and secure energy future
• Building internal links within the interdisciplinary UCL Energy Institute research staff
• Working in close collaboration with research teams at UCL-Energy and with research partners in the UK and Europe
• Contributing to successful new research fundraising
• Contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate supervision and teaching
• In addition to the duties above, to perform other tasks assigned by the line manager and by the Director of the UCL Energy Institute from time to time. These duties will be in line with what a research associate who is fully participating in the UCL Energy Institute might be reasonably expected to undertake. These should not unduly interfere with progress of research projects.

General

Follow and actively promote the UCL Ways of Working.

Contribute to Institutional citizenship activities by undertaking voluntary roles such as fire marshal or first aider; sit on committees; assist with student open days; contribute to EDI initiatives; or any other voluntary contribution to the department or across UCL.

Carry out any other duties within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the line manager.

This job description may be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.

UCL offers hybrid working where appropriate and the successful applicant may normally work remotely for up to 60% of the week if they wish.

Person Specification

Note to job applicant: copy and paste the following criteria into your “Statement in support of your application” and describe underneath each criterion how you meet it, giving examples. You will be scored on how you meet each criterion.

Essential Criteria: Assessment method

Qualifications, experience and knowledge

A PhD in building physics, or close to completion: Application Expertise in deriving the thermal performance of homes from smart meter data, both with and without supplementary data using internal temperatures: Application / Interview Demonstrable experience conducting hands-on quantitative analyses: Application / Interview Completed Safe Researcher Training to become an Accredited Researcher to use UKDS data and the ethical handling and analysis of complex disclosure data.:

Skills and abilities

Strong programming skills in Python: Application Expertise in managing large and/or complex databases/datasets, SQL queries and producing charts/graphs as outputs: Application /

UCL Ways of Working

Commitment to making best practice an absolute priority: Application / Interview Contribution to institutional citizenship activities.:

A commitment to UCL’s Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech

Desirable Criteria

Broad knowledge of current research in the energy demand sector and research methods relevant to smart meter and other high resolution energy data: Application / Interview Understanding of building physics of the fabric and heating systems: Interview Experience working in a multi-disciplinary research team and multi-disciplinary research methods: