Post Doctoral Research Associate for Residential Air-conditioning Demand Futures (RADFutures) Project

University of Reading - School of the Built Environment

Location: Reading

Salary: £37,694 per annum (pro-rata)

Hours: Part Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 16th September 2025

Closes: 5th October 2025

Job Ref: SRF51836

Part-time, fixed-term (6 months)

Closing date: 23:59 on 5th October 2025

Interview date: 13th October 2025

We are seeking to appoint a Post Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) for the Residential Air-conditioning Demand Futures (RADFutures) project funded by the Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC), supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The position would be suitable for an experienced PDRA or a near completed PhD writing up or undertaking post-viva corrections.

Climate change is already impacting the UK. By 2040, extreme and prolonged periods of heat will become normal summer events. This is expected to drive an unprecedented rise in cooling energy demand, creating a substantial challenge for an affordable, clean, resilient and equitable future UK energy system. The aim of the RADFutures project is to understand the socio-technical characteristics of UK households that have already installed Air Conditioning (AC) and the pathways driving AC adoption. The project will conduct the first socio-technical study of AC in UK homes providing data to understand current and future domestic cooling demand.

The appointee is expected to:

• Undertake quantitative and qualitative research and participate in project reporting and dissemination activities.

You will have:

• Near or completed PhD or equivalent research experience.
• Quantitative and Qualitative research skills.
• Knowledge of energy use in buildings.

Contact details:

Contact Name: Dr Rory Jones

Contact Job Title: Associate Professor

Contact Email address: r.v.jones@reading.ac.uk

Alternative Contact Name: Dr Alba Fuertes

Alternative Contact Job Title: Associate Professor

Alternative Contact Email address: a.fuertes@reading.ac.uk