Research Assistant​/Postdoctoral Research Associate in Energy Transition and Finance

Role
:
Research Assistant/Postdoctoral Research Associate in Energy Transition and Finance

Grade and Salary
:
Grade 6 - £31,236 - £36,636 / Grade 7, £37,694 - £43,482 per annum

FTE and working pattern
:
Full Time (1

FTE, part-time arrangements may also be considered). Fixed Term for 18 months, with the potential for extension.

Reward and Benefits
: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full-time staff.

Detailed Description

Decarbonising heat is one of the most critical challenges in the transition to net zero. The Sustainable Open-loop Large-scale Interseasonal Thermochemical Heat Storage (SOLIS) project is an EPSRC-funded Critical Mass Programme focused on developing innovative, scalable and cost-effective solutions for long-duration interseasonal heat storage technologies to balance renewable energy availability with seasonal heat demand.

SOLIS brings together an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Liverpool, University of Edinburgh, University College London and Heriot-Watt University, alongside industrial and public-sector partners. The project combines technological innovation in thermochemical heat storage with a whole-systems approach to understand the economic, financial, institutional and policy conditions required for successful deployment and scale-up.

Here at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, we are seeking to appoint up to two highly motivated and talented researchers to join the SOLIS consortium. These roles offer an exciting opportunity to conduct research at the nexus of energy transition, sustainable finance, business model innovation, and systems thinking, contributing to the development and evaluation of commercially viable, investable and scalable pathways for long-duration heat storage and heat networks.

The successful candidates will be expected to work regularly on campus at Heriot-Watt University. Fully remote working is not available.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Research & Analysis

• Undertake whole-systems, value-chain and transition analysis to understand the actors, relationships, interdependencies, barriers and enabling conditions influencing technology deployment and scale-up.
• Design and undertake mixed-methods research, combining qualitative stakeholder engagement (e.g., interviews, workshops) with quantitative techno-economic and financial analysis.
• Develop and evaluate business models, financing and investment strategies, risk-allocation approaches, and commercialisation pathways for long-duration heat storage and heat networks.
• Formulate practical decision frameworks, scenario models, and toolkits for local authorities, private investors, utilities, and infrastructure planners.
• Lead and co-author high-quality academic journal papers, industry reports, policy briefings, and other stakeholder-facing outputs.

Consortium, Engagement & Academic Contribution

• Work closely with academic, industry and public-sector partners across the SOLIS consortium to coordinate research activities and deliver project milestones.
• Lead and contribute to stakeholder interviews, participatory workshops and other engagement activities, and represent the SOLIS consortium at relevant events.
• Assist with the supervision of student project work and provide day-to-day research support where appropriate.
• Contribute to teaching activities as required.
• Contribute to funding proposals and grant applications to secure follow-on research funding.
• Undertake other duties reasonably requested by project leaders, commensurate with the nature and grade of the post.

Essential Criteria