Job Description

:

Professor in Transition Engineering

Full Time, Open Ended
Grade 10, Salary: from \xc2\xa366,857 - negotiable (dependent on experience and qualifications).

A Unique Leadership Opportunity

Heriot-Watt University is establishing a research group with a mission to establish the discipline of . This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in the development and delivery of innovative teaching and research directly relevant to meeting the challenges of just transition to net zero. The iNetZ+ network is seeking applicants with expertise in energy systems engineering, who have the capability to work on complex interdisciplinary wicked problems. Applications from candidates who can operate across the disciplinary boundaries of engineering, allied fields and economic or social sciences are particularly welcome.

• Urban form, built environment, and infrastructure.
• Essential transport activity systems
• Freight supply chain and goods movement systems
• Wicked Problems in electricity transitions to intermittent renewables
• Rural communities and industries processes for risk management and resilience
• Vulnerabilities, risks, costs, and social impacts of transitions
• Transitions of oil and gas energy systems and value creation in end use communities

This is an exciting time to join an innovative and ground-breaking team. The appointee will contribute directly to the in the Islands Centre for Net Zero (ICNZ) in Orkney, Shetland and Outer Hebrides. The is a partnership with councils, companies, communities and academics, provided with initial and capital funding for 5 years under the research directorship of Professor Susan Krumdieck. Heriot-Watt University has committed to taking a leading role in defining and developing the principles, approach, methods and tools of energy systems transition engineering through establishment of a globally leading research centre, International Centre for Net Zero and Beyond (iNetZ+). The research team will contribute to the cross-cutting transition engineering theme in the iNetZ+ through successful collaborations and building novel approaches for funding research. Applications from candidates who can operate across the disciplinary boundaries of engineering, allied fields and economic or social sciences are particularly welcome. Applicants must have an excellent record of high-quality publications and demonstrated team working and communication skills. Any relevant enterprise, policy or community experience is desirable but not essential. Previous experience in energy systems work and the development of modelling for complex systems is also very welcome. The position is open to researchers who have an industry background.

Heriot-Watt is a research-intensive university, with the School achieving high status in the UK\'s Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise of 2021. The successful candidate will be expected to make a substantive contribution to the next research assessment process in 2028.

About our Team

The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society is one of the UK\'s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity. We aim to attain excellence in the teaching of the core disciplines that contribute to a sustainable, resource and energy efficient society and are committed to undertaking high value, high impact research and knowledge transfer in topics of relevance to global challenges.

Institute for Net Zero and Beyond (iNetZ+)

This appointment will be part of Heriot Watt University\'s Global Research Institute in Net Zero and Beyond (iNetZ+). As such the appointee will play an active role in the promotion of iNetZ+ through engagement in collaborative research initiatives from across the University\'s Schools and campuses.

The vision of this GRI, iNetZ+, is to address the climate emergency though accelerating collaboration, bringing together excellence from the whole spectrum of expertise (engineering, industry, manufacturing, policy, business) to address the multi-disciplinary and multi-stranded challenges faced at a local, national, and global level, in getting to net zero and beyond. To do this we need to build human capital at scale through growing existing excellence within our Schools, attracting world leading academics to build teams at Heriot-Watt, and providing the world class facilities and support that will enable them to thrive and create an unrivalled global community of excellence.

In the next five years iNetZ+ will recruit over 50 leading academics, including this appointee, and forge a coherent and inclusive community of over 200 multidisciplinary researchers within Heriot-Watt collaborating at scale to create the inventions, products, and solutions of the future. We will integrate fundamental research, technology development, commercialisation, and future talent creation to create a unique model for accelerating research impact and lead the way to a Net Zero future.

This appointment will be based at the Islands Centre for Net Zero which undertakes action research to deliver stakeholder knowledge from carefully designed and executed shift projects, and inform government policy on topics such as climate change, sustainable development, energy resilience risk and security as well as covering specialist themes such as energy shift management, low carbon transport, systems engineering; refurbishment, and energy efficiency.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

You should apply for this unique position if

• You have a calling to make essential contributions to the discipline of Transition Engineering to advance research and professional practice.
• You have international academic standing commensurate with professorial status in an area related to one or more of the disciplines within the challenges of energy systems transition innovation, management and engineering.
• You have an outstanding track record of strategic and operational leadership, driven by a commitment to excellence in research and teaching valuable and relevant to government, society and industry, that also contributes to the energy system transition engineering discipline.
• You have a record of promoting excellent education and student experience, and in enabling colleagues to be excellent researchers and teachers.
• You have a demonstrable commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Islands Centre for Net Zero undertakes action research to deliver stakeholder knowledge from carefully designed and executed shift projects, and inform government policy on topics such as climate change, sustainable development, energy resilience risk and security as well as covering specialist themes such as energy shift management, low carbon transport, systems engineering; refurbishment, and energy efficiency.

Transition engineering is a relatively new field that focuses on driving and facilitating transitions toward a more sustainable and resilient future. It is rooted in the recognition that significant societal and technological shifts are necessary to address pressing global challenges, such as climate change and resource depletion. While not as established as some other philosophical approaches, transition engineering has core principles and philosophies, including:
1. Systems Thinking: Transition engineering emphasizes a holistic systems thinking approach. It views complex systems, such as energy, transportation, and food production, as interconnected and understands that changes in one system can have ripple effects throughout society.
2. Engineering as a Catalyst for Change: This philosophy sees engineering as a powerful tool for driving societal transitions. Engineers are encouraged to take an active role in designing and implementing sustainable solutions and technologies.
3. Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Transition engineering promotes collaboration among engineers, scientists, social scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders. It recognizes that addressing complex challenges requires expertise from various disciplines.
4. Ethical Considerations: Ethics and moral values play a significant role in transition engineering. It considers the ethical implications of technological choices and the distribution of benefits and burdens associated with transitions.
5. Long-Term Vision: Transition engineering looks beyond short-term goals and considers the long-term sustainability and resilience of systems and societies. It seeks to create solutions that can withstand future uncertainties and challenges.
6. Innovation and Adaptation: The philosophy of transition engineering encourages innovation in technology, policy, and societal practices. It also recognizes the need for adaptability in the face of changing circumstances.
7. Community Engagement: Transition engineering often emphasizes the importance of involving communities and stakeholders in the decision-making process. Local knowledge and perspectives are considered valuable assets in designing sustainable transitions.
8. Low-Carbon and Sustainable Technologies: It promotes the development and adoption of low-carbon and sustainable technologies to reduce the environmental impact of various sectors, including energy, transportation, and agriculture.
9. Resilience and Preparedness: Recognizing the inevitability of disruptions and shocks, transition engineering seeks to enhance societal resilience. This includes designing systems and infrastructure that can withstand and recover from various challenges.

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted up until midnight on Monday, 19th of February 2024.

Include the specific agreed submission format for the role, an example: Please must submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV that includes the list of publications (3) Research and teaching statements, showing their strengths in one or more of the research areas above.

At Heriot-Watt, we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact, which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to leverage your enterprising mind to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us, and Heriot-Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers .

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