Senior Research Fellow in Smart Agriculture

Making a Positive Impact, Together. Doing things differently. Senior Research Fellow - Smart / Digital Agriculture (Controlled Environment Agriculture)

Salary: £48,117 - £57,418 p.a. pro rata

Full time, permanent contract

About the Role

At Nottingham Trent University (NTU), we are investing in the next generation of smart agricultural systems, including new controlled‑environment agriculture (CEA) and vertical farming facilities. These platforms will support a growing portfolio of applied research spanning crop production, sensing technologies, automation, and data‑driven decision‑making.

We are now seeking a Senior Research Fellow to play a key role in developing and delivering research using these facilities, working at the interface of academic research and real‑world application.

This is a hands‑on, delivery‑focused research role, suited to someone who is motivated by translating technical capability into practical outcomes.

You will:

• Develop and deliver research in smart/digital agriculture, with a particular focus on CEA and vertical farming
• Make full use of the School's new and existing facilities, including glasshouses, vertical farming systems and analytical platforms
• Work collaboratively with academic colleagues and external partners, including industry
• Contribute to funded research activity, including bids, collaborative projects and applied research programmes
• Translate research findings into outputs that support real‑world application and impact

We are looking for someone who can combine technical expertise with practical delivery.

You will bring:

• Experience in a relevant area such as controlled‑environment agriculture, horticulture, agri‑technology, engineering, or data‑enabled agricultural systems
• The ability to design and deliver applied research projects, working to defined objectives and timelines
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, particularly in multidisciplinary or technical environments
• The ability to communicate effectively with both academic and non‑academic audiences
• Experience working collaboratively, ideally including industry or external partnerships

We are the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Science (ARES) at Nottingham Trent University. Our business is nature: specifically, the environment, animal health and welfare, ecology and conservation, and agriculture and food production.

Our approach is innovative and inclusive. We feel it makes us that little bit different. It's our goal to have a positive impact on the planet by improving the well‑being of environments, animals, plants, and people. If you see that passion in yourself, we can be a new, powerful partner in your career.

• 30 days annual leave per year plus statutory bank holidays and 5 university closure days pro rata
• Hybrid working – we encourage and offer a mixture of office working and working from home. You're empowered to define how you work best for the benefits of your stakeholders.
• Flexibility – take ownership over how you get your work done. We're open to different working patterns and approaches.
• Salary Sacrifice Retirement Savings Plan with life assurance and income protection, available to colleagues who choose to opt out of the contractual pension scheme. Minimum colleague contributions of 0% matched with minimum NTU contributions of 8%.
• Access to a wealth of formal and informal professional development opportunities to develop your skills and advance your career.
• Range of health and wellbeing services, including a Health Cash Plan, voluntary benefits, discounts, and savings for all colleagues.
• And a whole lot more… Find out more about the range of benefits we offer.

At NTU, we continue to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our students and colleagues. By championing positive wellbeing, we promote an environment where all can thrive and reach their full potential. We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring and we encourage people from underrepresented communities and backgrounds to apply to join our team.

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Whilst this role is currently eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position, or for more information visit the Government Skilled Worker visa support page.

This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and successful applicants will be asked to declare any unspent criminal convictions.