Opportunities

Careers with RCCS

RCCS is an international, leading engineering centre, inspiring and delivering innovation for the wider deployment of technologies needed to meet necessary carbon targets. Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) opportunities are available all-year-round, we welcome highly motivated, bright and enthusiastic individual to join us and become part of the global forces to tackle the world most critical environmental issues.

The successful candidate will join the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) to enhance and complement its existing research capacity within the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions at the Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering (IMPEE). The increasing strength of research activity in engineering at the School is affirmed by our excellent performance in the Research Excellence Framework assessment, REF2014, where our research quality in general engineering was first in the UK on a measure of ‘research power’.

PhD

We offer PhD projects to UK/EU and international students in various areas that fall in the research activities with the Centre. Most of these projects are identified as potentially having studentship support, either by EPSRC which may be restricted to UK/EU students only or international studentships. However, projects could equally run with students supported by other means (e.g. overseas students with own scholarships, self-funded, etc.) with an equivalent qualification.

To apply for our PhD programme, you will need to have a First or Upper Second class degree in a relevant subject such as Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Mechanical or Materials Engineering. Applications are matched with projects available.

Although the usual start date is in October, we can take students at other times of year. You can then find out more about how to apply HERE.

Want to know More? Read our completed list of PhD projects HERE

Open Positions

We do not always have vacancies but if you are interested in joining our team, you are encouraged to send us your CV along with your covering letter at rccs@hw.ac.uk. We will contact you if there is any suitable position available in the future.

You may also visit Heriot-Watt Job Vacancies page to know the current vacancies available at the university and learn how to apply there.

Current Openings

Research Associate in Numerical Modelling of Electrochemical Carbon Capture Processes – We are seeking a creative and motivated post-doctoral researcher to work as part of our international and multidisciplinary team on the CETP-funded DRIVE (“Deep Removal of CO2 and Innovative Electrification concepts”) project (https://drive-co2.eu). The successful applicant must hold a PhD (or about to obtain) in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics or related discipline (e.g. mathematics or other engineering) with background and demonstrable expertise in numerical modelling. The post is available from 1st September 2024 for 12 months in the first instance and could be extended further.

Alumni Testimonials

Morolake Adefioye

Athena-SWAN bursary | RCCS | PrISMa

I was awarded the Athena-SWAN bursary by the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences. This award aims to improve gender equality in the research community. I was interested in carbon capture after briefly encountering it in my Chemical Engineering degree; I decided to do my research project based on this area. I conducted a remote research project based on the adsorption of CO2 by structured adsorbents of varying shapes. This area was a completely new field to me, but I received a lot of support from my supervisor Prof. Susana Garcia and also Dr. Manohara Gudiyor Veerabhadrappa and Li Anne Cheah. I also had the opportunity to attend the RCCS Carbon Capture meetings before the start of my project to gain an insight into the research conducted at the RCCS. In the meetings, presentations were conducted by PhD students and Research Associates. I learnt the importance of explaining even minor details in the work you produce and how essential it is to give and receive constructive feedback. It was rewarding to learn about how versatile carbon capture research is, from process modelling to collecting data in the laboratory and presenting results. Later on in my project, I was also encouraged to present my project findings which was daunting at first, but it improved my confidence. Giving presentations also gave me the opportunity to be asked questions which later prompted me to do further research to better my understanding. I believe this internship has been beneficial, and I am feeling better prepared to tackle my final year research project. I am grateful for all the support I received.

Phitcha Phitchayanon

Pilot Engineer | PRINCE2 | PSM I

After a year of hard work, perseverance and countless midnight hours watching graphs of CO2 concentration, I have graduated with my MSc. in Energy Engineering.

Thanks a million to Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer and Warren Thompson for your vital guidance and support. I will strive to realize the ambition that you helped me to find.

Working at the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS) has been a true privilege; I will remember it all the more fondly for the colleagues and friends that I have made.

This leaves me only to say... watch this space!
#HWU #RCCS #Energy #renewableenergy #cleanerfuture #carbonemissions #utilization #graduations