Research Assistant/Postdoctoral Research Associate in Energy Transition and Finance
Overview
Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University is seeking up to two researchers, at Research Assistant or Postdoctoral Research Associate level, to join the SOLIS consortium. SOLIS, the Sustainable Open-loop Large-scale Interseasonal Thermochemical Heat Storage project, is an EPSRC-funded Critical Mass Programme developing scalable, cost-effective long-duration heat storage that balances renewable energy availability with seasonal heat demand. Decarbonising heat is one of the most critical challenges in the transition to net zero.
The roles sit at the meeting point of energy transition, sustainable finance, business model innovation and systems thinking, and contribute to developing and evaluating commercially viable, investable and scalable pathways for long-duration heat storage and heat networks.
Requirements
Applicants need a PhD, awarded or near completion, in sustainable finance, energy economics, business or management, energy policy, sustainability transitions or a closely related discipline. They should have a strong background in one or more of sustainable finance and infrastructure investment, energy economics and finance, energy business models and commercialisation, energy policy and governance, systems thinking or sustainability transitions. Experience designing and running rigorous qualitative and quantitative research, including collecting and analysing primary and secondary data, is expected, together with high-quality publications for career stage and policy- or practitioner-facing outputs. Excellent written, oral and presentation skills are needed, along with initiative, leadership potential and the ability to coordinate work with many stakeholders, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines. Candidates should work well independently and in diverse interdisciplinary teams with academic, industrial and public-sector partners.
What you get
The post is full time, with part-time arrangements possible, and fixed term for 18 months with potential for extension. Pay is on Grade 6, £31,236 to £36,636, or Grade 7, £37,694 to £43,482, per annum. Successful candidates are expected to work regularly on campus at Heriot-Watt University, and fully remote working is not available. The university welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.
How to apply
Full criteria and the application are available online. Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Bing Xu.
Key dates
The closing date is 18 October 2026.
Links in this posting
- For informal enquiries about the role, please contact Professor Bing Xu: b.xu@hw.ac.uk
- Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers disc.hw.ac.uk.
- Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers disc.hw.ac.uk.