Job Description
Position Details
Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822
Grade: 7
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to September 2026
Closing date: 28th August 2025
This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity which would need to be agreed by your current line manager.
Background
The Birmingham Institute for Sustainability & Climate Action (BISCA) facilitates and delivers world-leading, transdisciplinary research on sustainability and fosters climate action for the research community, students, policy and decision makers, and wider society – leading to better livelihoods and a more sustainable environment in a rapidly changing world.
The Institute takes a distinct approach to leveraging the University of Birmingham’s comprehensive, interdisciplinary research expertise; applying/translating ideas, skills and influence into wider engagement and action on climate change and broader sustainability matters.
BISCA is looking to recruit a
Research Fellow in Sustainability and Climate Action – Knowledge, Business, Policy and Impact. This post will be critical to the delivery and success of the Institute’s ambitious goals , in close alignment with the Birmingham 2030 Strategic Framework’s imbedded Sustainability ambitions.
Our approach to sustainability and climate action is anchored in a commitment to interdisciplinary research and its application to real-world sustainability challenges to unlock barriers and enable impactful change. This is an exciting opportunity to join BISCA in a role that will bring together cutting-edge research with policy and industry engagement to advance the agenda of sustainability and climate action. The role will enable the post holder to further their academic career through working closely with industry partners, policy makers and lead academics to propose and develop projects, write bids, and help coordinate and research efforts with impact.
Role Summary
BISCA is seeking an early career, postdoctoral researcher who has a strong desire to engage with policy and industry audiences and make a lasting impact on sustainability decisions. The successful candidate will conduct high-quality, publishable research; develop new research projects; policy and business interactions; and actively participate in communication of research results and other forms of policy engagement.
Specifically, the post holder will engage in developing and leading in research projects focusing on the core BISCA themes which include Adaptation and Resilience , Climate Change and Health , Finance for Sustainability , AI for Sustainability and by doing so create a collaborative research environment exemplary for the BISCA distinct approach.
As one of two Research Fellows in the Institute, we anticipate recruiting complementary skills from either a STEM background, or a social sciences/art and humanities background. Together, the Research Fellows will act as a talent pool to facilitate responses to rapidly emerging short-term, strategically high-value opportunities - providing capacity to deliver higher risk-reward research, bid writing and translation of research into action through collaboration.
Main Duties
- Collaborate with the BISCA leadership team to foster world-class, transdisciplinary research on climate change and sustainability, contributing to REF28 objectives.
- Co-create innovative research questions and solutions in partnership with stakeholders at local and global levels.
- Identify and respond to sustainability-related external opportunities, coordinating research efforts and supporting bid writing.
- Stay updated on developments in sustainability and climate action to guide strategic research directions within BISCA.
- Engage actively in raising the profile of sustainability within and beyond Birmingham, influencing policy and funding landscapes:
- Represent and promote the work of the Institute to external audiences, including key policy makers, international organisations, charities, media and research/philanthropic funders.
- Foster engagement with these external audiences to inform and influence the policy and regulatory landscape related to sustainability.
- Collaborate with the research community at BISCA to enhance the research impact of the Institute.
- Ensure sustainability research is integrated into the University's Strategic Framework, promoting "Sustainability at Heart.".
- Facilitate connections within the University community to support sustainability research utilizing major assets and partnerships.
- Enhance accessibility of Institute research within the University community, empowering staff, students, and alumni to drive action on climate change and Sustainable Development Goals:
- Work closely with sustainability leads and sustainability champions to promote the work of BISCA to the University Community.
- Organise engagement events with staff and students (e.g. Sustainability Café) to foster dialogue and drive actions towards sustainability.
- Increase the visibility of the University’s sustainability research to academic and non-academic audiences.
- Support the development and implementation of business-facing and advisory services addressing Sustainable Development Goals to maximise external impact.
- Support the establishment and delivery of the Institute’s pump-prime funding scheme, supporting new collaborative opportunities.
- Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
Research and Dissemination:
- Propose, plan, and execute research, knowledge and technology transfer projects primarily under the BISCA banner with the assistance of a mentor if required.
- Participate in and contribute to research projects where applicable.
- Share research findings and project outcomes through various channels such as conferences, seminars, and publications.
- Utilise acquired knowledge to foster new intellectual insights.
- Mentor students in research-related activities and offer guidance to PhD candidates within the discipline when necessary.
- Contribute to the development of novel models, techniques, and methodologies.
- Engage in administrative duties within the university, particularly those related to BISCA’s research and technology transfer.
- Apply expertise to advance intellectual understanding and/or industry adoption.
Person Specification
- Normally, a higher degree relevant to the research area (normally PhD or near to completion) or equivalent qualification.
- Relevant experience in Sustainability and/or Climate Change research.
- Significant knowledge of relevant aspects of sustainability and climate policies in the UK and internationally.
- Research and/or technology transfer experience and scholarship within subject specialism.
- Demonstrable ability in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results.
- Ability to communicate complex information clearly, to a wide audience.
- Strong report-writing and proposal-writing skills.
- Confidence in networking and strong relationship-building skills.
- Ability to apply and/or develop and devise successful models, techniques and methods in research and innovation.
- Extensive experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity.
- Ability to think strategically on matters relevant to the role.
- Excellent analytical skills and ability to contribute to strategy development and planning.
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.
Informal enquiries to Jessica Mylchreest, Head of Institute Operations, email:
[email protected]We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website . 
