Lecturer in Energy and Life Cycle Sustainability

at  University College London

ABOUT US

UCL has been ranked ninth best university in the world for the second year in a row, marking UCL’s 13th year among the top 10 universities worldwide, in the 2025 QS World University Rankings. The UCL Energy Institute https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/energy/ delivers world-leading learning, research and policy support on the challenges of climate change and energy security.

ABOUT YOU

You will have expertise in conducting environmental and social life cycle assessments (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of energy systems across their full lifecycle. Your knowledge should encompass key LCA phases, including inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation. You will have a deep understanding of the resource implications associated with key materials used in energy technologies, particularly rare earth elements which are essential for electric vehicles (EV) batteries and renewable energy systems. You are proficient in using LCA software tools such as GaBi, OpenLCA, or SimaPro and can effectively teach students how to apply these tools in analyzing energy systems and resource flows. You will have the capacity to incorporate materiality assessment methods into your teaching. You have a demonstrated ability to produce high-quality, impactful research, as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed academic journals. You are actively contributing to advancing the field of energy systems and sustainability. Your experience extends beyond academia, having worked with or collaborated with energy industry stakeholders, government bodies, or NGOs on sustainability and lifecycle management projects related to energy systems. You are passionate about teaching and can engage students in both theoretical and practical applications of life cycle assessment and sustainability. You have experience developing and delivering taught modules on topics relevant to our teaching programmes that prepare students for real-world challenges in energy systems and sustainability. You will have a PhD in a relevant field that aligns with the research and teaching requirements outlined in the job description. You will also have excellent communication skills, and be able collaborate across a range of disciplines and stakeholders.

The UCL Energy Institute (EI) is recruiting a Lecturer in Energy and Life Cycle Sustainability. The successful candidate will significantly strengthen our research and teaching capacity at the intersection of environmental and social life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impact of energy systems across their full lifecycle. A strong background in conducting environmental and life cycle assessments to evaluate the environmental impact of energy systems across full lifecycle. This includes knowledge of inventory analysis, impact assessment, interpretation. Expertise in critical resource reliance (e.g. rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt) for technologies like electric vehicles (EV) batteries, renewable energy systems. Capacity to teach students to use LCA software tools for practical applications in analysing energy systems and resource flows, and methods related to materiality assessment. Ability to collaborate with researchers from environmental sciences, engineering, economics, and social sciences to address complex energy and sustainability challenges. Demonstrated ability to publish research in academic journals. Experience working with energy industry, government, or NGOs on sustainability and lifecycle management of energy systems. In addition to developing a research agenda in collaboration with colleagues, the successful candidate will contribute to teaching to our MSc and BSc programs: Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment MSc, Sustainable Built Environments, Energy and Resources BSc and MEng. The post is available from 01 February 2025. A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page. If you have any queries regarding the vacancy, or the application process, please contact bseer-recruitment@ucl.ac.uk. If you have specific questions about the role please contact Prof Catalina Spataru, c.spataru@ucl.ac.uk. UCL welcomes applications from international applicants and has licence to sponsor individuals who require a visa. This is dependent on the post and candidate meeting eligibility requirements for visa sponsorship under UK Visas and Immigration legislation.