The Environmental Change Institute is seeking a Senior Research Associate to contribute to a major UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project, Beyond Experiments: Scaling Transformative, Sustainable Business Models in the UK. Working with Dr Donal Brown, the successful candidate will lead research within Work Package 3, examining the role of alternative macro-financial paradigms in delivering a more equitable and sustainable net zero transition.
The role focuses on analysing how contemporary financial and economic systems shape decarbonisation pathways across key sectors of the UK economy, including energy, housing, transport, and food. Drawing on heterodox economic traditions, you will investigate questions relating to economic rent, financial accumulation, investment, fiscal and monetary policy, and the distributional consequences of different approaches to climate transition.
You will undertake conceptual and policy-oriented research, synthesise complex theoretical and interdisciplinary literature, develop original analytical frameworks, and contribute to high-quality academic and policy outputs. You will work closely with colleagues across a wider interdisciplinary programme examining the political economy of net zero, while helping to shape future research directions and funding applications.
We are seeking an experienced researcher with a PhD/DPhil in economics, political economy, finance, or a related discipline, together with postdoctoral research experience. You will have expertise in macro-financial systems, political economy, ecological economics, or related fields, a strong publication record, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to engage with complex theoretical and policy debates. Experience working with heterodox economic approaches and contributing to policy-relevant research is highly desirable.
The role is based at the Environmental Change Institute, and the successful candidate will be expected to work on-site in Oxford for a significant proportion of their working time.
This post is fixed term until 31 May 2029 and offered on a part time basis (0.8 FTE / 30 hours).
What We Offer
As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ well-being, and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:
- An excellent contributory pension scheme
- 38 days annual leave
- A comprehensive range of childcare services
- Family leave schemes
- Cycle loan scheme
- Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans.
Application Process
You will be required to upload a covering letter with a supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application. In your supporting statement, please explain how you meet each of the selection criteria found in the job description, and why you would like to do this role. See guidance at https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/cv-and-supporting-statement.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on 20 July 2026. Only applications submitted by this time will be considered.
The University of Oxford and The School of Geography and the Environment are Silver Athena SWAN holders. Applications are particularly welcome and encouraged from women, black, and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in posts in The School of Geography and the Environment. The School of Geography and the Environment are committed to equality and values diversity
