Assistant Professor (Research) G7 - Research Fellow in Hydrogen Innovation

Working at Durham University A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a warm and friendly place to work, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it’s also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community. Our University Strategy is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential. Our Purpose and Values We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what their identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all. Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? • Information Page Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here. The Department The Department of Engineering is consistently one of the very best UK engineering departments with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. The Department is ranked 4th in the Complete University Guide, 5th in the Guardian University Guide and 6th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 in the UK for General Engineering. Ranked in the top six in the UK for overall profile in REF 2021 (with 95%25 of publications rated as 4* and 3*), this dynamic Department is an excellent place to work. The strategic vision for the Department includes a growth plan of over 50%25 over the next five years, with a significant enhancement of the research challenge portfolio and a drive to enrich our undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research provision. It is an exciting time to join this expanding Department and make your mark. Professor Tony Roskilly leads a large Energy Systems Group in the Department of Engineering which includes academic, post-doctoral research staff, administration and technical personnel. A number of researchers from Anthropology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Biological Science and Durham University Business School also support the Group’s collaborative research activities directly. The group has a successful track record of attracting funding, primarily from Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Innovate UK, EU and industry. Professor Roskilly is the Academic Lead for the Teesside Industrial Cluster and is working closely with Teesside University on a ground-breaking project to accelerate decarbonisation and the use of hydrogen through supporting industrial research and development and capacity building in the Tees Valley. Researchers from both universities will harness their complementary strengths in the ambitious four-year project, Growing Teesside’s Hydrogen Economy and Catalysing a Just Transition to Net Zero. The £11m project is led by Teesside University and funded from the Research England Development (RED) Fund, part of UK Research and Innovation, as well as funding from Teesside University, Durham University, and industrial partners. This new joint project will bring together a large cohort of industrial and policy research fellows who will work together with industrial partners to identify challenges and develop innovative solutions to overcome them. Examples of challenges include fuel switching to hydrogen for high-grade heating, the use of hydrogen in flexible and resilient power systems, and hydrogen fuelled heavy-duty transportation. The Department of Engineering at Durham University seeks to appoint an Assistant Professor (Research) • Research Fellow in Hydrogen Innovation and would welcome applications from those with experience and expertise in energy research, especially related to hydrogen technology innovation using plasma technology to produce hydrogen and carbon from syngas. This post offers an exciting opportunity to make an important contribution to the development of the Department of Engineering’s research while allowing you excellent opportunities to develop your career in an exciting and progressive institution. For more information, please visit our Department pages at Department of Engineering • Durham University The Assistant Professor (Research) • Research Fellow in Hydrogen Innovation position is funded jointly by Research England and Durham University to work with industrial partners within the Teesside Industrial Cluster to support the development of Teesside’s Hydrogen Economy and Catalyse a Just Transition to Net Zero. The successful candidate will be line-managed by Professor Tony Roskilly but will be independent researchers and expected to carry out high quality work closely with academic colleagues and industrial partners. They will contribute to a number of industrial research projects and will be responsible for them to be successfully delivered on time, within budget and meeting all objectives. The candidate will focus on advancing research and innovation through direct engagement with industrial partners but will also interact with other stakeholders, such as policy makers and the general public, as part of the project. Assistant Professors (Research) at Durham The University is committed to enabling all of our colleagues to achieve their full potential. We promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment to ensure that all colleagues can thrive. Academic colleagues are supported to publish world-class research in their area of interest with a focus on quality in high impact journals, rather than quantity. We will fully support your research needs including practical help, such as resources to attend conferences and to fund research activity, as well as a generous research leave policy and a designated mentor. All of our Assistant Professors (Research) are encouraged to focus on research but also to engage in wider citizenship to enhance their own development, to support their department and wider discipline. Assistant Professor (Research) • Research Fellow in Hydrogen Innovation Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in the field of energy research, especially related to hydrogen technology innovation, with expertise in plasma-assisted technologies for syngas conversion into hydrogen and carbon production, the ability to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University. The University provides a working, research and teaching environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process. Key responsibilities: Pursue research that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour, commensurate with the Department’s continuing emphasis on international excellence; To be developing clear plans for the pursuit of suitable national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagement; Contribute to enhancing the quality of the research environment in the Department, the wider University and beyond through collaborative research activity; To contribute to attracting and supervising research students, and to enhance the Department’s commitment to its vibrant and international postgraduate culture. To undertake advanced research in the relevant discipline area, using or developing appropriate methods and/or techniques in collaboration with external partners and is commensurate with the Department’s continuing emphasis on international excellence. To play a significant role in the delivery of a portfolio of collaborative research projects relating to innovation in the hydrogen economy. This will include working with partners from industry, the public sector and the third sector, as appropriate to the projects. To engage in networks relevant for future collaboration and funding opportunities across the agreed project research domains, developing clear plans for the pursuit of suitable national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagements. To develop proposals for research projects which will make a significant impact by leading to an increase in knowledge and understanding and the discovery or development of new explanations, insights, concepts, processes related to hydrogen. To work closely with the external partners involved in each research project, including spending time working at partner sites as required. To write up results of research work, present information on research progress and outcomes to internal and external partners in a clear and accurate manner. To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Professor Roskilly and offer creative or innovative solutions. To demonstrate a willingness to contribute to the administrative word, citizenship and values of the Department. To fully engage in and enhance the values of the Department. To carry out such other duties as specified by Professor Roskilly. Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key component of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our Purpose and Values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups. If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application. The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Leader status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role. Person Specification Candidates applying for a grade 7 post will have recently completed or be concluding their PhD and while they may have limited direct experience of the requirements for the post, they must outline their experience, skills and achievements to date which demonstrate that they meet or that they have the potential to achieve the essential criteria. Research Candidates must have the capacity for and be progressing towards the independent development of internationally excellent research that produces high-quality outcomes, including some work that is recognised as world-class or that has world-class potential. Essential Research Criteria 1. Qualifications –- a good first degree and a PhD (or close to completion at the time of application) in Engineering or a related subject. 2. Outputs - experience, skills and/or achievements which demonstrate experience of or the potential to produce high quality outputs that are recognised as world class or that have world-class potential. Candidates are asked to submit two research papers with their application (as outlined in the How to Apply section below). Candidates may additionally choose to submit evidence such as external peer review of their outputs 3. Personal Research Plan - evidence of a personal research plan which supports and enhances the Department’s research strategy. Research and Impact • Durham University Service, Citizenship and Values This post is focused on research but candidates will be expected to actively engage in the administrative requirements of the Department, notably related to their research, and/or the research and research environment of the department. Active engagement in administrative and citizenship requirements and to fostering a respectful environment, including the active contribution to the creation of a welcoming environment in which colleagues feel included and valued. Essential Service, Citizenship and Values criteria 4. Citizenship contribution – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate experience of or the potential to participate in the Citizenship /administrative activities of an academic Department, Faculty or University. (Candidates may choose to evidence departmental or University roles, mentoring activity, pastoral and academic support of students, Carrying out departmental and interdepartmental activities effectively: Being involved in departmental activities, such as open days, employability events, departmental meetings and committees) 5. Communication - candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums. (Effective pastoral support of students the beginnings of an external engagement and knowledge exchange profile) Desirable Criteria The desirable criteria for this post (for which candidates should provide evidence of some if not all criteria) are: Income generation - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to develop successful research project proposals. PhD supervision - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to provide excellent supervision for PhD students. Research Leadership - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to contribute to the leadership of research groups and the mentoring of early career researchers. Candidates may choose to include information about research group leadership, mentoring of research colleagues, invitations to and engagement with external events, and/or involvement with international networks or projects. Research Impact – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to evidence research impact beyond the institution. Leadership - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate (experience of or) the potential to engage in the administrative functioning of the candidate’s academic department and/or discipline including any leadership or other responsibilities in an academic/research context. Contact Information Department contact for academic-related enquiries Professor Tony Roskilly, anthony.p.roskilly@durham.ac.uk Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time. We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays). How to Apply We prefer to receive applications online. Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants • Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data. If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system, please get in touch with us on e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk. What to Submit All applicants are asked to submit: A CV A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above; Personal research plan. 2 of your most significant pieces of written work. Where possible your written work should have been published or submitted since 2020, however work prior to 2020 may be submitted where candidates have had career breaks. Where possible we request that you provide accessible web links to your publications, which the hiring Department will use to access your work. The application form contains fields in which to enter each of the web links. Please note we are unable to access publications behind a paywall. In the event you are unable to provide accessible links to online hosting of your work, publications should be uploaded as PDFs as part of your application in our recruitment system. Please ensure that your PDFs are not larger than 5mb. Your work may be read by colleagues from across the Department and evaluated against the current REF criteria. All application documents should be uploaded with your name and document type as PDF files. We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails. Referees You should provide 3 academic referees they should not (if possible) include your PhD supervisor(s). The majority should be from a University other than your own (save for early career applicants applying for their first post). References will be requested for candidates who have been shortlisted and will be made available to the panel during the interview process. As part of your application, you will be asked whether you give your consent to your academic references being sought should you be invited to attend an interview. We will only request references where permission has been granted. Next Steps All applications will be considered; our usual practice is for colleagues across the Department to read the submitted work of long-listed candidates. Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department. The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation to staff and students in the Department followed by an interview. In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date. Applicant Guidance For further guidance on your application please see HERE Version 07-2026