Research Assistant/Associate in Life Cycle Assessment

Newcastle University is hiring a Research Assistant/Associate in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to advance methodologies for evaluating sustainability in the chemical industry. The role involves conducting LCAs, improving data quality, and developing decision-support tools. Candidates should have experience with environmental modelling and data analysis. This position is based in Newcastle, South Africa, and offers competitive salaries and benefits, closing on 20 August 2026.
Salary
Research Assistant: £33,951 to £35,608 per annum


Research Associate: £36,636 to £37,694 per annum


Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.


Closing Date: 20 August 2026


The Role
We are excited to launch this new opportunity for a Research Assistant or Associate in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to join us in the School of Engineering. This position focuses on advancing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies and datasets to evaluate the sustainability of emerging technologies, materials, and supply chains of CO2 from raw materials to products and final disposal in the Chemical Industry.


Great British Chemicals is a National Research & Innovation Centre for Sustainable Industrial Futures. Funded by EPSRC and NERC, the centre will unite the UK chemical industry, academic researchers and policy makers to advance innovative, scalable and sustainable technology solutions for defossilising chemicals manufacturing. We aim to create people-focused opportunities to truly shape sustainable carbon management.


You will contribute to research that integrates supply chain data, environmental modelling, and economic analysis to identify opportunities for reducing emissions, improving resource efficiency, and enabling circular economy strategies. The work will involve analysing flows of materials and energy across global value chains and assessing associated environmental impacts using internationally recognised LCA standards such as ISO 14040/44.


You will conduct a range of LCAs and test the newly developed Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework for the chemical sector. You will develop and implement strategies to improve data availability, quality, and transparency. Having experience with AI/ML for environmental or toxicological modelling would be an advantage. You should be familiar with regulatory data requirements and compliance systems and have the ability to handle data gaps and conflicting datasets for LCAs.


You will join a diverse group of colleagues based in Newcastle in our Environmental Engineering Research Group and work with Oliver Heidrich and Russell Davenport to advance the science, engineering, regulatory practice and environmental assessments of CO2 utilisation.





You will work closely with interdisciplinary teams to develop decision-support tools, including open-source data platforms and models that enable stakeholders to evaluate sustainability trade-offs and inform policy, industry strategy, and innovation pathways.


This role is embedded in a flagship programme GB Chemicals, addressing one of the most critical global challenges: transitioning to sustainable, circular, and net-zero industrial systems.


We are particularly keen to hear from those with a passion for collaboration and the ability to interact and engage with industry and academia, and who can be an integral part of a diverse network of specialists. The research integrates technology scale sustainability and LCA with supply chain modelling, digital tools, and environmental analysis to support decision-making across industry and policy.


You will contribute to shaping how emerging technologies and materials to manage carbon are designed, evaluated, and deployed, ensuring they are environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially responsible. The quantification of the supply chain data with qualitative inputs will identify efficiency opportunities and environmental challenges that may hinder sustainability.


Our work will assess and develop a roadmap to a sustainable net-zero chemical industry towards SSbD chemicals from feedstocks, intermediates and products. The research aims to shape emerging technologies during early developmental stages to ensure they are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable.


By focusing on critical resources, minerals, and chemicals, the study will provide actionable recommendations for meeting future demand with minimal environmental impact.


We want you to feel confident when applying for a position with Newcastle University. If you’d like an informal discussion to clarify any points, please contact Oliver.Heidrich@newcastle.ac.uk


We are committed to making the process accessible to everyone and can provide additional support to make adjustments to meet your needs’. You are required to travel to national project meetings, attend and present at international conferences and liaise closely with industry partners.


Newcastle