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Research Assistant/Associate in Soil Modelling
Requisition ID: 29568
Location:
Newcastle, GB
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Contract Type: Fixed Term
Working Pattern: Full Time
Posted Date: 31 Jul 2026
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Salary:
Research Assistant: £33,951 to £35,608 per annum
Research Associate: £36,636 to £38,784 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: 16 August 2026
The Role
Newcastle University is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to join the innovative HOTGROUND project: Identifying Future Risk Hotspots for Underground Cables Affected by Hot Weather. The project is funded through a collaboration with Northern Powergrid (NPg) and the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) and aims to address one of the emerging challenges facing the UK's electricity infrastructure under climate change.
As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, understanding the impacts of prolonged hot and dry conditions on underground electricity cables has become critical. HOTGROUND will develop new methods for identifying future thermal-risk hotspots across electricity distribution networks, helping protect infrastructure, improve reliability, and support climate adaptation planning.
The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team led by Dr Sadegh Nadimi and Professor Sean Wilkinson, combining expertise in soil modelling, infrastructure resilience, and climate risk assessment.
The project will:
Analyse historical underground cable fault records alongside climate, rainfall, soil moisture and land-use datasets
Develop thermo-mechanical soil models to assess how heatwaves influence underground cable temperatures
Apply UK climate projections to evaluate future risks under climate change scenarios
Find out more about the Faculty of Science, Agriculture & Engineering here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/sage/
Find out more about our School of Engineering: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/engineering/
Contact for the post is Dr Sadegh Nadimi: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/engineering/staff/profile/sadeghnadimi-shahraki.html
Duration of post is 12 months
Key Accountabilities
Research Assistant
Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)
Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate
Research Associate
Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project
Determine appropriate methodologies for research
Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding
The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Research Assistant
Knowledge of numerical modelling and/or computational geomechanics
Strong skills in data analysis and programming (e.g. Python, MATLAB)
Strong report-writing and publication record commensurate with career stage
Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy
Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results
Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems
In addition for Research Associate
Awareness of the research environment
High level of analytical and problem solving capacity
Ability to communicate complex information with clarity
Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications
Attributes and Behaviour
Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team
Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
Commitment to continued professional development
Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity
Qualifications
Research Assistant
Honours degree in Civil Engineering or a related discipline
In addition for Research Associate
PhD in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Earth Sciences, Physics or a related discipline
Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 29568
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