Research Fellow

Job Title

Research Fellow

Job Reference

3881

Application Closing Date

23/11/2026

Division, Department

Research Institute for Sustainability, Equity and Resilience (ISER), ISER Management and Support

Salary

Competitive starting salary range from £38,784 up to £42,254 per annum (dependent upon experience) with the potential to progress. A discretionary range for candidates with exceptional experience can be discussed/considered

Mode

Full Time, 7 Month Fixed Term Contract

Our Mission

Coventry University is a global Education Group that empowers students and communities to transform their lives and society through teaching, learning, research, and enterprise.

An ambitious and innovative university, our research is designed to have real-world impact on society and tackle global challenges through our 13 challenge-led, interdisciplinary research centres. We enable high performing research teams and future research leaders to thrive and make an impact locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.

The Role

As a Research Fellow within the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR) you will undertake and play a role in the development of impactful research, contributing to the UKRI-funded project “H2R: Portable Circular System for Greywater & Rainwater Treatment and Reuse”. This post will be based at the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR), Coventry University.

In this role you will support research activities in the H2R project on building and bench-testing the integrated H2R prototype and undertaking water quality analysis at CAWR's High-Performance Analytical Hub, and planning and delivering field trials on two sites (in London and Coventry). This will also include sampling, sample preparation, and analysis of influents and effluents from the integrated H2R system for target water quality parameters (pH, turbidity, E. coli, BOD, COD, ionic/elemental/organic pollutant composition, etc.), using standard methods and a range of instrumental techniques, including Ion Chromatography (IC), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), and Liquid Chromatography High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS).

You will be responsible for developing and contributing to research activities that enhance both individual and collaborative research outputs, contributing to research excellence with national and international impact. The role will involve applying innovative research methods, expanding the research portfolio through high-quality publications, and building strong internal and external networks to support knowledge exchange, future collaborations, and funding opportunities.

Qualifications Required

PhD (or equivalent) or professional experience equivalent to a PhD demonstrating an ability to carry-out independent research with a 1st Class/2.1 Degree in an appropriate subject such as Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis, Environmental/Chemical Engineering, Environmental Chemistry.

Our Successful Candidate

You will be an experienced Research Fellow with demonstrable knowledge, understanding, and prior experience related to Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis, Environmental/Chemical Engineering, Environmental Chemistry.

You will have an advanced knowledge of research methods and techniques with demonstratable adherence to all regulations. You will be able to demonstrate expertise and experience (including hands-on experience) in:

• designing, building and bench-testing water treatment systems;
• planning and delivering field trials or monitoring campaigns;
• analysing water and wastewater, ideally greywater, rainwater or other non-potable water sources, including sampling, sample preservation and preparation, and analysis of influents and effluents;
• operating analytical instruments, ideally including IC, ICP-OES, ICP-MS and LC-HRMS, for determining ionic, elemental and organic pollutants, including trace-level and emerging contaminants;
• IT packages and instrument software for acquiring, processing and interpreting data, and of statistical and data analysis tools (e.g. Excel, R, Python or similar).

You will have a track record of high-quality, peer-reviewed publications relative to career stage, and excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present research findings to academic, industrial and community audiences. You will work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, managing your time to meet project milestones. You will be willing to travel to the field trial sites in London and Coventry as required.

The Benefits

As a staff member of Coventry University, you will have access to a wide range of industry leading rewards and benefits which includes:

• Excellent Employers Pension Contribution
• 30 days Annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• New Holiday Purchase Scheme up to 5 additional days
• Life Assurance 4x Salary
• BUPA Cash Plan
• 50% off Tuition Fees for staff dependants
• CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/ Online Retailers
• Cycle To Work scheme

Our Culture

As a global Education Group, equality, diversity, and inclusion are embedded within the fabric of our organisation and are a key focus of our core values. We harness the power and potential of the diverse cultures, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences of our students, colleagues, and partners to create opportunities for all.

Full Job Description & Person Specification

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We look forward to hearing from you!