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Heriot-Watt University

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Energy Transition and Finance Heriot-Watt University in United Kingdom

Degree Level

Postdoc

Field of study

Environmental Science

Funding

Grade 6 salary £31,236–£36,636 or Grade 7 salary £37,694–£43,482 per annum. Full-time fixed term for 18 months, with part-time arrangements considered. This is a paid research staff position; no stipend or tuition funding is mentioned.

Deadline

Oct 18, 2026

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Country

United Kingdom

University

Heriot-Watt University

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Keywords

Environmental Science
Energy Policy
Business
Management
Energy Economics
Systems Thinking
Sustainable Finance
Energy Transition
Economics

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About this position

Research Assistant / Postdoctoral Research Associate in Energy Transition and Finance at Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom).

This is an interdisciplinary research role within the SOLIS project: Sustainable Open-loop Large-scale Interseasonal Thermochemical Heat Storage. The project is EPSRC-funded and focuses on decarbonising heat through long-duration interseasonal heat storage technologies, with a whole-systems perspective on the economic, financial, institutional, and policy conditions needed for deployment and scale-up.

The successful researcher will work at the intersection of energy transition, sustainable finance, energy economics, business model innovation, energy policy, and systems thinking. Responsibilities include mixed-methods research, stakeholder interviews and workshops, techno-economic and financial analysis, business model and investment strategy development, scenario and value-chain analysis, and producing academic papers, policy briefings, and industry-facing outputs.

The role is based in Edinburgh Business School and requires regular on-campus work; fully remote working is not available. The project consortium includes the University of Liverpool, University of Edinburgh, University College London, Heriot-Watt University, and industrial/public-sector partners.

Eligibility: Applicants should have a PhD (awarded or near completion) in Sustainable Finance, Energy Economics, Business/Management, Energy Policy, Sustainability Transitions, or a closely related field. Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills, publication record, communication ability, initiative, and collaborative experience are essential. Experience in energy systems, heat decarbonisation, energy storage, district heating, systems mapping, or UK energy policy is desirable.

Funding and terms: Full-time, fixed-term appointment for 18 months, with part-time arrangements possible. Salary is Grade 6 (£31,236–£36,636) or Grade 7 (£37,694–£43,482) per annum.

How to apply: Submit a CV and covering letter via the application portal. Informal enquiries can be sent to Professor Bing Xu at [email protected]. Deadline: 18 October 2026.

Funding details

Grade 6 salary £31,236–£36,636 or Grade 7 salary £37,694–£43,482 per annum. Full-time fixed term for 18 months, with part-time arrangements considered. This is a paid research staff position; no stipend or tuition funding is mentioned.

What's required

A PhD (awarded or near completion) in Sustainable Finance, Energy Economics, Business/Management, Energy Policy, Sustainability Transitions, or a closely related discipline. Applicants should have a strong research background in sustainable finance and infrastructure investment, energy economics and finance, energy business models, innovation and commercialisation, energy policy and governance, systems thinking, or sustainability transitions. Experience designing and conducting rigorous qualitative and quantitative research, including primary and secondary data collection and analysis, is required. Candidates should have a track record of high-quality publications commensurate with career stage, strong written/oral/presentation skills, initiative and leadership potential, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively with academic, industrial, and public-sector partners. Desirable experience includes energy systems, heat decarbonisation, energy storage, district heating, systems mapping, supply- or value-chain analysis, transition analysis, scenario analysis, UK energy policy/regulation/funding, and stakeholder engagement with local authorities, utilities, or finance partners.

How to apply

Submit a CV and covering letter addressing the criteria. For informal enquiries, email Professor Bing Xu at [email protected]. Apply through the university application portal linked in the post.

More information can be found here

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