Senior Research Associate or Fellow in Microsimulation

Job reference REQ260308

Date posted 12/05/2026

Application closing date 10/06/2026

Location Loughborough

Package Specialist and Supporting Academic Research grade 7 from £47,389 - £56,535 or grade 8 from £59,966 - £67,468, per annum. Subject to annual pay award.

Job description

School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Full Time (37 hours per week), 3 year fixed-term contract

Hybrid: 3 days in the office and 2 days remote

Please note, we will appoint either at grade 7 or grade 8, depending on the successful candidate. There is only one vacancy available. Please indicate in your application which grade you wish to be considered for.

Join us and be part of a vibrant community at Loughborough University.

Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for:

We are seeking an ambitious and collaborative researcher to join a team developing and applying microsimulation and agent-based models of cities, including an integrated land use, transport, and health exposure suite currently applied to Greater Manchester, and the ITHIM health impact modelling framework, as well as contributing to the development of entirely new methods and applications.

This is not a narrowly defined role. We are looking for someone who combines strong modelling and simulation skills with genuine intellectual curiosity about the big questions facing cities: How do urban environments and transport systems shape the health and wellbeing of populations? How can integrated microsimulation help us understand the cascading effects of climate change, economic shocks, and policy decisions on cities and the people who live in them? How can we build tools that are not just technically sophisticated but genuinely useful to those making decisions?

You will bring your own ideas, help shape the direction of the programme, build collaborations, including with our international partners at TU Munich, TU Graz, the University of Utrecht, ISGlobal, and TU Berlin, and help to mentor the next generation of researchers in the group.

About the University

Universities are one of this country’s greatest assets. We’re educators, employers, innovators and pioneers. We shape culture and society.

At Loughborough, we strive for better, think differently, challenge convention and take action. We are passionate about finding solutions to the major problems faced by society and the planet, and we create opportunities for those with the drive, the ambition, and the determination to apply themselves in the pursuit of better.

About the Department

The School of Sport Exercise and Health Sciences (SSEHS) is a multi-disciplinary school committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community. It upholds the highest standards of excellence in research, innovation, and pedagogy across the full spectrum of disciplines within sport, exercise, health and wellbeing.

Your research lead

Professor James Woodcock is a world leader in quantitative modelling for urban health, with an h-index of 98 and a career spanning methods development, large-scale modelling, and direct policy engagement at national and international level. His research addresses the full complexity of how transport and the built environment shape population health – integrating evidence on physical activity, air pollution, noise, and traffic injury into tools that are rigorous and policy-relevant.

His current research is expanding beyond mitigation to address climate adaptation, and increasingly encompasses the wider determinants of health and equity, including cost of living pressures, climate-driven inflation shocks, and the interconnections between transport, housing, and food systems. The Senior Research Associate or Senior Research Fellow will be joining a programme at a moment of genuine ambition and growth.

Why should you Apply?

This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of cutting-edge urban simulation and real-world policy impact, within an internationally connected programme and under the direct mentorship of a leading figure in the field. You will have the chance to develop your own research agenda, build collaborations across Europe and beyond, contribute to a growing team, and work on questions that genuinely matter for the future of cities and the health of their populations. Whether your background is in transport modelling, urban simulation, spatial analysis, or a related quantitative field, if you are motivated by using models to understand and improve cities, we would love to hear from you.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Professor James Woodcock, via email to j.d.woodcock@lboro.ac.uk

For more information on the grade 7 post, refer to the Senior Research Associate Job Description and Person Specification.

For more information on the grade 8 post, refer to the Senior Research Fellow Job Description and Person Specification.

Application Process

For further support with your application, please refer to our application guidance, which includes some top tips to help you when completing your application

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process. If there are additional adjustments, you’d like to request please contact SSEHS-Recruitment@lboro.ac.uk. We also offer reasonable adjustments on the job.

Our Benefits

At Loughborough, our benefits are designed to support your life inside and outside of work, helping you to thrive and feel valued as part of our community. Examples of our benefits include:

Time off - generous holiday allowance, including 14 university closure days and bank holidays, with the option to buy extra through our holiday purchase scheme.

Where you work - access to a range of fantastic facilities with plenty of green space across our 523-acre East Midlands campus, plus an exciting community at our London campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Financial Wellbeing - competitive pay, two excellent pension schemes, and everyday savings opportunities.

Support for you and those close to you - through our range of life event leave policies as well as access to an on-site nursery at our East Midlands campus, flexible and hybrid working options.

Health and Wellbeing - discounted gym memberships and access to world-class sporting facilities, including physiotherapy, plus healthcare offers such as eyesight testing and wellbeing support.

Travel and sustainability - access to our electric vehicle and cycle-to-work schemes, as well as a variety of travel offers to support sustainable commuting.

Discover more about the full range of rewards and benefits at Loughborough University.