Job Description

Job Title:

Research Fellow: Decarbonisation of Heat

Posting Start Date:

05/11/2025

Job Id:

1826

School/Department:

Mechanical, Aerospace & Civil Engineering

Work Arrangement:

Part Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type:

Fixed-term

Salary per annum ():

48,822.00 - 54,893.00

Closing Date:

19/11/2025
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.



We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Overview

Domestic heating contributes around 18% of the UK's carbon emissions. Reducing this figure is essential to achieving the UK Government's legally binding Net Zero targets, as well as supporting regional goals for safe, secure, and sustainable housing.



Researchers in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sheffield are exploring how novel storage (thermal and electrical) and control technologies--particularly model predictive control--can be integrated with established low-carbon heating systems like heat pumps. These technologies aim to address both grid-level and end-user challenges. Storage enables households to benefit from time-of-use tariffs and flexibility services, helping reduce both energy bills and carbon footprints. Predictive control systems allow for efficient operation without user input, making these solutions more accessible and user-friendly.

Scaling up the deployment of low-carbon heating systems offers the potential for significant regional benefits in cost, carbon reduction, and comfort, without the need for extensive grid upgrades.



We are seeking a researcher with expertise in electrical or control engineering to support a project funded by the South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre and the Grantham Institute. The project's main goal is to quantify the performance of current and emerging low-carbon heating technologies in homes. This data is critical for informed decision-making by homeowners, housing providers, and local authorities. Testing at the system level will help identify how technologies interact in practice, and the barriers and opportunities presented by their interoperability.

.

Main duties and responsibilities

Lead the final specification and commissioning of an extended multi-vector (electrical/thermal) flexibility demonstrator within the Low Carbon Lab at UoS. Lead the final specification and commissioning of a thermal storage development rig at UoS, including initial data gathering and evaluation. Support the successful deployment of a planned Community Heat Network Demonstrator at Gleadless Valley, including commissioning of remotely accessible energy monitoring equipment. Conduct research into novel whole home optimisation approaches for thermal and electrical storage technologies. Contribute to academic publications and stakeholder-facing reports on the key project outputs. Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Have a good honours degree (or have equivalent experience) in control engineering, mechanical engineering or a relevant discipline


Essential


Application


Have completed, or be about to complete, a PhD in control engineering, mechanical engineering or a relevant discipline


Essential


Application


Experience of designing and conducting systems-level testing of control systems, including specification of appropriate control hardware and software, and analysis of resulting system performance data.


Essential


Application and Interview


Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time in a research context


Essential


Application and Interview


Ability to manage a research project and keep track of resources and delivery to

timescale


Essential


Application and Interview


Effective communication skills, both written and verbal


Essential


Application and Interview


Technical (academic publication) writing skills


Essential


Application and Interview


Experience relating to interoperable control of low carbon technologies, for example heat pumps and solar inverters.


Essential


Application and Interview


Experience of applying AI techniques in a control engineering context.


Desirable


Application and Interview


Experience of working effectively in a collaborative research environment involving a broad set of stakeholders (e.g. academia, industry, public bodies and community groups).


Desirable


Application and Interview

Further Information

Grade

G8

Salary

48,822 - 54,893

Work arrangement

Part Time

Duration

1st Dec 2025 - 31st Jul 2026

Line manager

Senior Lecturer

Direct reports

N/A

Our website

School | MAC | The University of Sheffield


For informal enquiries about this job contact Mac Operations: on

mac-operations

@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place week commencing 24th November. This will consist of an interview and a presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 17th November. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact mac-operations@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().

What we offer

A minimum of 41days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more. Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles. Generous pension scheme. A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel. A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks). Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role. A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways A range of generous family-friendly policies + paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
+ support for those going through the menopause
+ paid time off and support for fertility treatment
+ and more





We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.