Research Assistant: Hierarchical Material Intensities

Research Assistant: Hierarchical Material Intensities

Job Details: Title: Research Assistant: Hierarchical Material Intensities. Department: Mechanical, Aerospace & Civil Engineering. Location: Sheffield. Work Arrangement: Full Time (Hybrid). Contract Type: Fixed-term. Salary: £32,080 - £36,636 per annum. Duration: One year. Closing Date: 23 July 2026.

Overview

BuildZero is a £6 million EPSRC funded project that explores sustainable building practices with the aim of eliminating waste and reducing carbon emissions from material extraction. The five year project, led by the University of Sheffield and partners, will develop methods for building without extracting new resources, assess the feasibility of a circular economy at regional and national levels, and provide a platform to demonstrate solutions at scale.

Responsibilities

• Quantify typical ranges for material intensity, embodied carbon and reuse potential of building products and construction specifications across building layers, focusing on skin, services and fit out.
• Analyse existing building drawings to estimate material intensities.
• Scale building level material quantities, embodied carbon and reuse potentials to neighbourhood, city and national levels (knowledge of Python is beneficial).
• Visualise results and communicate findings to stakeholders using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Prepare research papers for journal publication and conference presentations.
• Plan a research schedule and meet personal milestones.
• Collaborate closely with BuildZero team members and engage with industrial, commercial and public stakeholders.
• Present progress reports at BuildZero team meetings and events.
• Undergo appropriate personal and professional development.
• Plan and implement project tasks and procedures to ensure accurate timely reporting.
• Perform other duties commensurate with the post.

Person Specification

We value diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds. Candidates are encouraged to apply even if experience does not match perfectly.

Requirements

• Final year or graduated undergraduate degree in civil/structural engineering, architecture, architectural engineering or related discipline.
• Experience conducting material inventories, embodied carbon and whole life carbon assessments of built environment.
• Ability to interpret building plans, sections and elevations.
• Organisational and time management skills.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Experience with Python or other coding languages.

Desirable

• Experience using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for data analysis and visualisation.

Legal & Equality

We are a Disability Confident Leader. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria, you will be invited to participate in the selection process.

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is examined individually. More information can be found on the University's information for candidates webpage.

Line Manager

BuildZero Project Lead

Contact

For enquiries, contact Dani Densley Tingley, Professor of Circular Construction () or Gillian Callaghan, BuildZero Programme Manager ().