Student Casual – Catalyst Fund Research Assistant (Chemistry) – BISCA – Grade 6 – 907212

Job Description

Post title

BISCA Catalyst Fund Research Assistant

College/Division

College of Engineering & Physical Sciences

School/Department

Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action (BISCA)

Full time/Part time

Part time

Duration of the Post

30/03/2026 – 08/05/2026

Grade

6

Hourly rate

£16.92

Number of positions available

1

Closing Date

20/03/2026

Please note that this vacancy may be taken down early depending on the number of applications received. We advise you to submit your application promptly.

Our offer to you

At the University of Birmingham, Worklink is the dedicated student employment service which helps students to find flexible, well paid part-time roles that fit around your studies. Each year, the University invests more than £2.5 million to employ 3,000 of our own students in a wide range of roles, supporting our student community into part-time work. Roles available via Worklink include a range of positions, including administrative roles, support staff such as cleaners or baristas, research roles and many more.

Jobs through Worklink help you to gain work experience, develop skills relevant for your future career, and improve your soft and hard skills in a professional setting. Enhance your CV and get valuable experience ready for graduate roles and feel connected to your university and local community.

Our jobs are flexible and can be scheduled around your academic commitments, so you can focus on your studies first. Our team are passionate about supporting students into work. Worklink are based in a central location on campus which is easily accessible for students and can also be contacted online.

Find out more about working through Worklink here or via the student intranet .

Job context

Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action (BISCA)

The Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action (BISCA) takes a distinct approach to leverage Birmingham’s comprehensive, interdisciplinary research expertise; and apply/translate ideas, skills and influence into wider engagement and action on climate change and broader sustainability matters.

BISCA aims to move beyond evidence generation and technological solutions to consider, for example, dynamic policies and decision-making under uncertainty; politics and behaviours around policies.

Project ARC: Advanced Recovery of Composites is a BISCA Catalyst Fund 2025/26 project developing and evaluating a novel recycling process for glass-fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) waste from wind-turbine blades. The project integrates chemical engineering experimentation with economic modelling and energy policy analysis to assess the techno-economic and policy feasibility of a pilot-scale recycling system.

Job Summary

The Research Assistant will support lab-scale recycling within Project ARC, contributing to the development of a closed loop process for the recovery of fibres, polymeric compounds, solvents, and catalysts from waste wind turbine material. The role will involve data collection via lab-scale experimentation, data analysis, kinetic modelling, and communication of findings through relevant presentations and report writing. This is an interdisciplinary project, and as such, the successful post-holder will also share findings with the Birmingham Business School to inform cost modelling and scenario analysis to evaluate the financial viability and policy requirements for pilot-scale deployment of GFRP recycling.

Main duties

• Conduct literature searches of current recycling routes, feedstock characterisation techniques, and product analysis methods.
• Perform experimental work safely in a research laboratory, complying with all relevant risk mitigation procedures.
• Collect, analyse, and report data from experiments using suitable spreadsheets.
• Contribute to the preparation of presentations and final reports to communicate outcomes.
• Carry out administrative and organisational tasks directly related to the research activities.
  
  

This role may also include the following duties;

• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews.
• Analyse research data as directed.
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for
  
  

example at seminars and as posters.

• Develop or adapt techniques, models and methods.
• Guide as required to support staff and any students who may be assisting with
  
  

Research.

• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.

Carry out administrative tasks related directly to the delivery of the research.

Promotes equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• Undergraduate degree (or working towards a postgraduate degree) in chemical engineering, chemistry, or related discipline.
• Experience with data analysis and/or modelling (e.g., Excel or similar).
• Ability to conduct literature and policy review and synthesise information clearly.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Ability to organise and manage research data.
• Understanding of sustainability or circular-economy concepts.
  
  

Desirable:

• Experience with designing and carrying out experiments.
• Knowledge of waste management, recycling systems, or environmental policy.
• Interest in sustainable engineering, finance or circular-economy business models.
  
  

Further details

Working pattern is expected to be 9:00 to 16:30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (6.5 h per day, with 1 h for lunch/breaks. Total 19.5 h per week during term time). Note that there is some flexibility with dates and times to be discussed with candidate.

For any informal queries, please contact Dr. Matt Keith (

m.j.keith@bham.ac.uk ) or Jessica Mylchreest ( j.mylchreest@bham.ac.uk ).

The University of Birmingham restricts all students to working up to 20 hours per week during term time for a maximum of 13 consecutive weeks. If your application is successful and your course does not follow the usual academic term timetable (e.g.  PGT, PGR or PhD student), you and your supervisor must formally agree vacation periods if this role exceeds 20 hours per week. In addition to this, please be aware if you are an international student you will be required to apply to the Registry for the appropriate authorised absence.

You are only eligible to apply to this role if you are a current University of Birmingham student. If you are not a University of Birmingham student your application will not be considered.

To work you will need to carry out a right to work check. These checks will need to be completed prior to work commencing.

Regarding the use of AI in applications, we review hundreds of applications and shortlist candidates based on their unique perspective, motivations and potential. Cover letters generated through, or edited by, AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT or CoPilot) are easy to identify.

They produce generic answers and will not score highly enough to progress. You may use AI tools for research, but all written content in your application must be your own work. Authenticity and originality are key to standing out in this process.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we’re unable to contact all applicants individually. You can check the progress of your application by logging into the Worklink jobs portal using the same email address you used to apply. If you haven’t heard back within six weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Our Shared Values

Ambitious

We are confident in the University of Birmingham and project this globally. We are focused on our goals, are clear about our strengths, and pursue our own direction. We are bold and take intelligent risks.

Innovative

We enjoy being the first to do things. Inspired by our Birmingham heritage, we are resourceful, creative, grounded, and practical, and seek to make a real and positive difference to the world around us.

Open

We welcome colleagues, collaborators, and students from across the world to work and study with us. We are committed to academic freedom, freedom of speech, and equality of opportunity for all. We expect everyone to act with sensitivity, respect, and fairness.

Collaborative

The major challenges facing our city, nation, and the world cannot be solved if we act alone. We enhance our research and education by pursuing creative partnerships within and beyond the University.

Responsible

We operate with transparency, trust, and respect. We value our role as an anchor institution for Birmingham. We strive to be an excellent employer, to reduce inequalities in access to education, and to place sustainability at the heart of our work.