Research Associate in Building Energy Modelling, Monitoring & Decarbonisation

University of Hull - Energy and Environment Institute

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, creating a community where colleagues feel respected and valued. We aim to reflect the diversity of our students and communities, and to strengthen our university through collaboration and diverse perspectives, across all roles at the University.

The post-holder will be expected to join the active research community in the Energy and Environment Institute, which brings together leading academics to tackle global issues surrounding climate change and its consequences on livelihoods. Established in 2016, the Institute has a vision to become an internationally leading centre for research into the interfaces between energy and environmental resilience; a centre that focuses on global sustainability challenges and delivers research that makes a difference.

This post is funded through the EPSRC Place-Based Impact Accelerator: Northern Net Zero Accelerator (NNZA) Fostering Partnerships Scheme. The project, “Closing the Performance Gap: Building Decarbonisation Partnerships across the Humber Region”, is led by the University of Hull and delivered in collaboration with Reckitt and Hull Truck Theatre.

The project addresses a major challenge in the UK net zero transition: the gap between how non-domestic buildings are designed to perform and how they operate in practice. Using two demonstrator sites, Reckitt’s Hull R&D site as a commercial example and Hull Truck Theatre as a community and cultural example, the project will develop evidence-based approaches to reducing energy use and carbon emissions through digital modelling, monitoring, and stakeholder-led operational improvements.

This is for the externally funded project with a fixed start date 1 May 2026 and ending on 30 April 2027.

This role is part of the EPSRC-funded Northern Net Zero Accelerator Fostering Partnerships initiative, supporting real-world decarbonisation of buildings through digital innovation and regional collaboration.

The successful candidate will join a research team at the University of Hull’s Energy and Environment Institute, working on a 12-month project that brings together cutting-edge energy modelling, stakeholder co-design, and demonstrator validation across two high-profile sites: Hull Truck Theatre (a community arts venue) and Reckitt’s R&D building.

This is a particularly attractive opportunity because of the strength of the project partners. Reckitt is a global consumer health and hygiene company behind widely recognised brands such as Dettol and Finish, offering the postholder exposure to a high-profile industrial and commercial environment. Hull Truck Theatre is a pioneering and regionally rooted cultural organisation with a strong community mission, with broad engagement across artists, audiences and local communities.

The postholder will play a central role in the technical delivery of the project. This includes developing and calibrating building energy models, analysing building performance data, supporting the interpretation of live monitoring information, evaluating decarbonisation measures in real operational settings, and implementing the measures working collaboratively with the project partners. The postholder will also contribute to project outputs including reports, presentations, and dissemination activities.

This is an excellent opportunity for a researcher with expertise in building energy modelling, monitoring, and performance analysis to work on a high-impact applied project with strong regional relevance, excellent partner visibility, and clear potential to shape real-world building decarbonisation.

In your covering letter please refer directly to the criteria given in the person specification. Applications are assessed by the selection panel according to these criteria.

For more information regarding the specific duties for the role please view the job description here