Research Fellow

Job Summary:

This fixed-term Research Fellow post is supported by the EPSRCfunded Maritime and Last Mile Net Zero (Ma La Mi ) Place Based Impact Acceleration Account. The postholder will provide dedicated research and technical capacity for scoping, proof-of-concept and appropriate validation activity, with particular focus on Engineering Net Zero, Artificial Intelligence (AI), digitalisation and data. Work may include evidence review, data analysis, modelling, simulation, optimisation, machine learning, prototype/demonstrator development, testing and evaluation, with rapid technical assessment of Level 1 projects to support fast-fail, refinement or progression decisions.

Working with Professor Zaili Yang, the Ma La Mi  Project Manager, investigators and external partners, the postholder will coordinate assigned technical activities, maintain project-level records and contribute evidence for reviews, milestones, KPIs, impact monitoring and dissemination. Formal programme management, finance, governance, EPSRC liaison and risk-register ownership remain with the designated Ma La Mi  role holders. Candidates should hold a PhD, or have equivalent professional experience, in transport, logistics, engineering, operations research, data science or a relevant discipline.

They should have strong quantitative research and data-analysis skills, experience of delivering research or innovation projects, and the ability to work effectively with interdisciplinary academic and non-academic partners. Experience relevant to maritime decarbonisation, sustainable logistics, AI, digitalisation, proof-of-concept development and research translation is desirable., Research

• Liaise with Ma La Mi  investigators, researchers, the Project Manager and external partners to define and prioritise the technical requirements of assigned activities.
• Plan and deliver assigned scoping, feasibility, proof-of-concept and appropriate validation activities to agreed objectives, timescales and reporting requirements.
• Undertake rapid Level 1 feasibility assessments and prepare evidence-based recommendations for fast-fail, refinement, continuation or progression.
• Apply appropriate quantitative and data-driven methods, including data analysis, modelling, simulation, optimisation, AI/machine learning and uncertainty/sensitivity analysis.
• Contribute to prototype, software/tool or demonstrator development, testing and evaluation, supporting progression of promising work towards TRL3-5.
• Provide flexible technical support across Engineering Net Zero, AI, digitalisation and data applications relevant to maritime and last-mile decarbonisation.
• Analyse operational, experimental, simulation and other real-world data and translate findings into clear technical conclusions and recommendations.
• Work with academic, civic and business partners to define project questions, data needs, methods, success criteria, outputs and routes to impact.
• Maintain accurate, auditable records of objectives, methods, data, activities, results, partner contributions, IP considerations and follow-up actions.
• Prepare technical reports, completion evidence, presentations, models, datasets, analytical tools, demonstrators, case studies and publications as appropriate.
• Contribute technical input to project reviews, partner meetings, knowledge-exchange activities, showcases, funding-call development and public engagement.
• Apply requirements for ethics, RRI, EDI, data management, confidentiality, IP, research security and sustainability, and elevate risks appropriately.

• Coordinate the research activities and resources assigned to the post, ensuring that they are used effectively and in accordance with Ma La Mi  objectives, award conditions and…