Senior Research Fellow in Maritime and Ocean Governance

Senior Research Fellow in Maritime and Ocean Governance

The UCL Energy Institute hosts a world leading research group which aims to accelerate the transition to an equitable and sustainable energy and trade system within the context of the ocean. The Shipping and Oceans Research group's multi-disciplinary work on the shipping and ocean system leverages advanced data analytics, cutting-edge modelling, and rigorous research methods, providing crucial insights for decision-makers in both policy and industry. The group focuses on three core areas: analysing big data to understand the drivers of shipping emissions, developing models and frameworks to explore the path toward zero-emission shipping, and conducting social science research to examine the policy and commercial structures that enable the decarbonisation of the shipping sector. For more information visit

About the role

The Senior Research Fellow will be leading the policy related work to enable shipping's decarbonisation with support from Dr Tristan Smith and Dr Nishatabbas Rehmatulla. The individual will also be responsible for developing new areas of inquiry around ocean governance including ocean acidification, maritime carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) and other emerging areas in this space. The individual will support the group's work across policy fora including the IMO and providing analysis and technical advice to key decision makers, including specific regions, for maximum impact of the group's research. The Senior Research Fellow will be based in the Shipping and Oceans research group at the UCL Energy Institute, led by Dr Tristan Smith and Dr Nishatabbas Rehmatulla.

The successful applicant will work in a multi-disciplinary team and where possible also support several ongoing commercial and policy consultancy projects. They should have an enthusiasm for working in multidisciplinary environments alongside physical scientists, social scientists and economists to achieve joint research goals, as well as supporting MSc programmes and PhD students in the shipping group.

This post is available from 01.10.2026 and is funded for 12 months in the first instance; further funding to support the post may become available.

A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

UCL welcomes applications from international applicants and has licence to sponsor individuals who require a visa. This is dependent on the post and candidate meeting eligibility requirements for visa sponsorship under UK Visas and Immigration legislation.

About you

The candidate will have a PhD degree in one of the following disciplines: Business and economics, law, or political science. and have a good understanding of the commercial, technical, policy and scientific aspects of the shipping and oceans sectors. The candidate will be working in a multi-disciplinary research environment and should have the ability to integrate knowledge from different disciplines.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits, some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.

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