Assistant Professor in Marine Energy

Description

Role:Assistant Professor in Marine Energy

Grade and Salary:Grade 7(37694 - 47389)

FTE and working pattern:Full-time (35 hours per week) Open-Ended

HolidayEntitlement:33days annual leaveplus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)

Detailed Description

This is a unique opportunity to work alongside partners in a community at the center of marine energy development. More wave and tidal energy devices have beentested in Orkney than anywhere else globally. Orkney is now set to become akey hub for the expanding offshore wind will also be part of a global university with 5 campus locations across UK Dubai and Malaysia over 3000 staff and 30000 students.

The UK and Scottish governments have committed to energy transition and have set ambitious targets for achieving net zero carbon. The transition to sustainable marine energy (wind wave and tide) is full of challenges. Heriot-Watt University (HWU) is at the forefront of education and research in energy systems to achieve net zero carbon while improving social and environmental wellbeing.

This post is ideally suited to a candidate with an engineering or physics background prepared to collaborate with multidisciplinary partners. We are interested in hearing from candidates with research interests in offshore wind wave or tidal technologies. This includes but is not limited to

• Hydrodynamics and resource assessment

• Understanding marine energy array and device interaction.

• Application of robotics to marine renewables.

• Environmental engineering to minimize environmental and social impact

The candidate will be expected to collaborate with academics from the wider University participating in our Global Research Institutes (GRIs). Our GRIs are intended to draw together academics from across the university to work on specific challenges. The GRIiNZ and GRINational Robotarium are of particular significance.

The successful candidate will contribute to our mastersteaching programs. Our MSc programs in Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition (RESET) are delivered from the Orkney Campus and on-line. MRE covers technical ecological and economic aspects of marine energy and is designed to help students from a variety of backgrounds to find work in the sector. The successful candidate will be expected to take a key role in teaching and developing the curriculum in marine energy technologies and resource assessment.

Living and Working in Orkney

The post is located in Orkney working from a purpose-built building on the Orkney Innovation and Research Campus in the town of Stromness. The Campus is shared with other businesses working in energy related science and technology. Stromness is home to a thriving community of researchers and professionals working in the fields of marine science and renewable energy. In addition to professional life Orkney has excellent sports facilities and a thriving arts culture. Orkney has repeatedly been identified as one of the best places to live in the UK and in some rankings THE best. All interests are well catered for and families will find good schools at all levels. The islands are home to several internationally famous festivals including the St Magnus Music and Arts Festival in the summer and the Science Festival in the autumn. We recommend looking at which provides information about Orkney and its economy housing leisure education health and environment.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

The successful applicant will be expected to make positive and sustainable contributions to the areas below. However you will be measured against the essential criteria not by the key duties and responsibilities.

Research:

• To develop a research profile inmarine energy technologyof internationally recognised importance and quality that will make a significant contribution to the Universitys submission to future Research Excellence Framework exercises enhance the international profile of the University and contribute to the development of its own communities of research;
• Disseminate research through high-quality journal publications and papers presentations at conferences and relevant stakeholder events;
• Where appropriate partner with industry and local stakeholder organisations in research.

Pioneering Education:

• Undertake continuous professional development both through the University and externallyto remain up to date with current learning and teaching practice and external influencers in our sector to provide direction and leadership;

• Share best practice in learningand teaching methodologies working with colleagues to develop scholarly debate and the dissemination of excellence to advance the curriculum to be future focused and challenge-led;

• Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students work and take responsibility for dealing with referred issues regarding students within their own educational programmes.

Collaboration and Leadership:

• Work collaboratively within the Institute of Life and Earth Sciences to ensure excellent levels of student engagement retention and outcomes;

• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure a consistent effective and high-quality delivery of teaching and research in line with the strategic aims of EGIS as well as the wider University;

• Represent EGIS with integrity in a professional capacity at academic conferences with industrial partners in professional societies etc.

Please note this job description is not exhaustive and the role holder may have the opportunity to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Education Qualifications and Experience:

Essential:

Qualifications

• A first degree in Engineering Physics or related discipline.
• A PhD in Marine Energy Renewable Energy Energy Systems or a cognate subject

Experience

• A Publication record in the areas of marine or renewable energy
• Some experience in teaching and assessing at HE level
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Competencies Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent IT skills
• Good team player with good interpersonal skills
• Demonstrable potential to become an independent researcher

Desirable:

• Experience with multi-location live online teaching
• Experience with innovative teaching approaches

How to Apply

Applications can besubmittedup to23:55(UK time)onSunday 26th of July 2026.

Please must submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV that includes the list of publications (3) Research and teaching statements showing their strengths in one or more of the research areas above.

For informal discussions about the position please contact Professor Sandy Kerr

We welcome and will consider flexible working -time working and job share options.

Heriot-WattUniversity is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected trained promoted appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-WattUniversity values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information please see our website alsoour award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers our total rewards calculator: see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

About our Team

The School of Energy Geoscience Infrastructure and Society

The School of Energy Geoscience Infrastructure and Society is one of the UKs leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity. We aim to attain excellence in the teaching of the core disciplines that contribute to a sustainable resource and energy efficient society and are committed to undertaking high value high impact research and knowledge transfer in topics of relevance to global challenges.

Energy Geoscience Infrastructure and Society - Heriot-Watt University ()

The post is located on ourOrkney Campus where we are co-located with a number of organisations working in the marine energy sector (e.g.EMEC) many of whom participate in the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum (OREF). Heriot Watt has had a presence in Orkney for over 35 years where a multidisciplinary team is located working on marine and energy related issues.

About Heriot-Watt University

At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Required Experience:

Junior IC

Employment Type : Full-Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1