"Research Assistant for ESRC IAA Project (Job Number: 25000940)"

Department of Management and Marketing

Grade 6: - £30,805 to £37,174 per annum

Fixed Term - Full Time

Contract Duration: 6 months

Contracted Hours per Week: 35

Working Arrangements: 9am and 5pm

Closing Date: 04-Aug-2025, 6:59:00 AM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.  

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally. We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here.

The Department

Dynamic and vibrant, Durham University Business School is one of Durham University’s four Faculties and is comprised of three research-intensive departments: Accounting, Economics and Finance, and Management and Marketing. Known for its global reputation, its impact on policy and practice and its strong focus on ethics, responsibility and sustainability, the school aims to be a leading European business school with a strong global presence by 2027. The school currently has 180 academic and teaching staff, with plans and resource commitments to grow to 230 by 2027. In addition, 11 funded research centres (https://www.dur.ac.uk/business/research/research-centres/) blend leading theoretical perspectives with a strong emphasis on impact and engagement with practice, noted in www.durham.ac.uk/business. The school’s student population is around 4000, across undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes.

Our vision is to lead business thought and practice to improve global wealth and well-being. Our associated mission is to create, share and use knowledge to deliver equitable and sustainable futures around the world. We pursue this mission by advancing world-changing knowledge and securing global impact through increasingly collaborative research across disciplines and around the world.

The Role

Applications are invited for a Research Assistant (RA) to support the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) research project titled “Ochre-Based Phosphate Removal in Wastewater Treatment: A Feasibility Study on Supply Chain, Economic, and Environmental Impacts.”

This project will evaluate the economic and environmental feasibility of converting ochre waste into iron salts for phosphate removal in wastewater treatment. You will investigate supply chain ramifications and dynamics, logistics optimisation, economic viability, and environmental impacts to ensure commercial sustainability and regulatory compliance. Your tasks will include:

1. Evaluating supplier relationships, market effects, logistics dependencies, and long-term resource availability.

2.  Developing an optimised supply chain model, including supplier roles, sourcing locations, and material flow strategies.

3.  Optimising transportation, storage, and processing efficiency by integrating inventory management, material handling, and reverse logistics strategies.

4.  Evaluating suitable contract mechanisms for commercial adoption.

5.  Conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the ochre recovery process and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations (e.g. heavy metal limits).

The successful applicant will work alongside the project PI, Dr Nail Tahirov, Prof. Atanu Chaudhuri, and Mr. Chris Jones from project partner Northumbrian Water Ltd, as well as Prof. H. Chris Greenwell, and Prof Gavin J. Bridge.

This RA role is funded by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) Fund. This post is fixed term for 6 months and may not be extendible for a further length of time.

Responsibilities

To work collaboratively with the Principal Investigator, research team members, and Northumbrian Water Ltd to develop appropriate supply chain and economic models assessing the feasibility of ochre-based phosphate removal in wastewater treatment, including data identification, realistic parameter estimation, and analysis to evaluate commercial viability and environmental impacts.

To conduct interviews and stakeholder engagement with industry experts, broader stakeholders, and academic colleagues (e.g. Earth Sciences, Geography, and Business School researchers) to obtain data for developing supply chain configurations, logistics optimisation strategies, and business models for commercialising ochre-derived ferric salts.

• To provide basic research assistance, including literature reviews, data collection, data analysis, and preparation of supporting materials for academic papers, reports, and presentations.
• To engage in academic dissemination by contributing to the preparation of papers for submission to peer-reviewed journals and conferences, under the guidance of the Principal Investigator and research team.
• To contribute to industry reports and presentations in collaboration with the Principal Investigator and research team.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial, inclusive, and respectful working environment, ensuring all colleagues and stakeholders are treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To contribute to the planning of research projects.