Category: Opportunities

A vacancy of Research Associate for Community Energy Systems (CES) is available at Loughborough University, UK.

The post holder will work in close collaboration with me at the STEER Centre on exciting research projects focusing on the landscape of CES in Ethiopia, Malawi and Mozambique and collaborating with other researchers to build on new opportunities and knowledge emerging from community energy and sustainable energy transitions.

Loughborough University is seeking to appoint a Research Associate for Community Energy Systems with a focus on resilience in the global South. The Research Associate will work across two projects (60/40 time split) – the Community Energy and Sustainable Energy Transitions in Ethiopia, Malawi and Mozambique (CESET) project and Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme. CESET explores how communities can support just energy transitions in East Africa, while MECS aims to rapidly accelerate the transition from biomass to clean cooking on a global scale.

Applicants should have experience of working and/or conducting research in the global South and understand the intersection between social and technical facets of the energy sector.

Closing deadline for applications: 4 September 2022.

Find further details here.

Join us at the Loughborough Centre for Sustainable Transitions: Energy, Environment and Resilience (STEER)! We are looking for an excellent Centre Manager to contribute to our mission of accelerating the transition to inclusive, sustainable, and resilient energy systems through innovative research, analysis and capacity building.

The Centre Manager will provide strong leadership for the strategic management and development of the activities of the STEER Centre, managing both the strategic and day-to-day operations of the Centre and coordinating relationships with external funders. Working as part of the STEER Directorate, they will develop and implement internal management processes to inform STEER and School level decision making on resourcing and planning.

You will have significant expertise of implementing and managing complex and extensive research or project-based activities; substantial related professional and/or academic experience; proven experience of interfacing with government/industry/civil society and developing strong relationships; plus experience of managing relationships with multiple partners to ensure efficient and timely delivery.

Apply by 8 May 2022 here.

Applications are now open for a funded PhD studentship on ‘Integrated energy planning for community resilience’ at Loughborough University.

About the project

Developing countries are increasingly facing multiple stresses and shocks such as climate change and disasters. Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be maintained without addressing resilience in energy planning at the community level.

Your will work in partnership with BRE Trust and contribute to the Quantifying Sustainability in the Aftermath of Natural Disasters (QSAND) self-assessment tool which promotes and informs sustainable approaches to relief, recovery and reconstruction. The tool consists of a set of questions and a scoring methodology to guide communities in decision-making to promote sustainability and resilience as they recover, and to identify and assess the suitability of solutions.

This PhD focuses on the energy component of QSAND and examines how it interacts with other components such as shelter and water. The objectives are to:

1. develop a methodology and framework to map the synergies and trade-offs between energy and other critical infrastructures for relief, recovery and reconstruction
2. apply the methodology and framework to case studies of communities in a developing country, involving fieldwork to collect qualitative and quantitative data
3. develop decision support tools to help communities and aid agencies to plan energy solutions in a way that enhances overall resilience.

Applications close 19 July 2020.

Read more and apply for this PhD opportunity here.

Join the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) team at Loughborough University! We are looking for a Research Associate passionate about clean cooking in humanitarian settings.

1.8 billion people have access to electricity but still cook with biomass. Load shedding, weak grids, affordability of electricity, accessibility of liquid petroleum gas (LPG), tradition, perceptions, poor energy governance, and a lack of suitable cooking appliances all act as barriers to scaling up the use of electricity or gas for cooking – clean cooking. The MECS Programme, is a £39.8 million, 5-year programme funded by UKAid through the Department for International Development.

The Research Associate will support the delivery of the MECS programme with a specific focus on clean cooking in humanitarian and displacement settings. The workstream is split into 3 core work packages: 1) understanding transition pathways for MECS in displacement situations; 2) demonstrate technology, innovation and delivery models; 3) capacity building and scale up. The Research Associate will be expected to lead on work packages 1 and 2 and support on 3. MECS works across 15 priority countries. For the humanitarian work stream, activities are likely to be focused on 3-5 countries.

Applications close on 16 July 2020.

Find out more about this job opportunity here.