Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Systems and Engineering Design for the Circular Economy

We are seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join Circular
Economy and Sustainability Lab at the Department of Engineering Science
(central Oxford). The post is funded by UKRI and is fixed-term to 29 June 2028
with the possibility of an extension.





The Research Assistant will join the Circular Electrical and Electronics
Programme, which was established in 2024 and is funded by Dr Lucia Corsini’s
UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (£1.56m), on “Tackling Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment” in order to develop systems and engineering design
solutions to enable a Circular Economy for Electrical and Electronic Equipment
(EEE).





We are supported by over 24 national and international partners that represent
stakeholders from across the EEE value chain, including brands, producers,
retailers, waste management services, compliances schemes, trade associates,
local authority and policy makers, technology and waste tracking companies,
waste non-profit organisations and eco-design consultancies.





Together, we seek to enable a low-carbon Circular Economy for EEE in the UK
that reduces the mining of rare, expensive and critical minerals. The long-
term vision is to make the UK the first country in the world to eliminate WEEE
through effective reduce, reuse, repair, remanufacturing, recycling and
recovery of EEE.





You will be responsible for conducting a Material Flow Analysis and Life-Cycle
Assessment of WEEE; establishing circular material, component, product and
system-level design guidelines, and developing and testing solutions with
industry to improve the reuse, repair, remanufacture and recycling of EEE;
identifying potential applications and demonstrator projects for emerging and
digital technologies to support the reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and
recycling of EEE.





You should possess a relevant PhD/DPhil (e.g. in Engineering, Engineering
Science, Engineering Design, Systems Engineering) and sufficient specialist
knowledge in the discipline to work within the established research programme
(including Material Flow Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment and Engineering
Design, Design for Manufacture and Assembly). You should be enthusiastic to
learn and work independently and as part of a larger team working on the
transition to the circular economy, and have the curiosity and motivation to
address important real-world problems through rigorous and ambitious academic
inquiry.





Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Lucia Corsini (email :
lucia.corsini@eng.ox.ac.uk)





For more information about working at the Department, see



www.eng.ox.ac.uk/about/work-with-us/





Only online applications received before midday on **7th October 2024** can be
considered. You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting
statement, including a brief statement of research interests (describing how
past experience and future plans fit with the advertised position), CV and the
details of two referees as part of your online application. If you are invited
to interview, you will be asked to deliver a short research presentation.





The Department holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment
to promoting women in Science, Engineering and Technology.





Circular Economy, Engineering Design, Systems Engineering, Sustainable Design,
Life Cycle Assessment