Postdoctoral Research Associate in Blockchain and AI for sustainable CO2-to at Durham University

Durham, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

30 Dec, 25

Salary

0.0

Posted On

01 Oct, 25

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Yes

Skills

Blockchain Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Smart Contract Programming, Predictive Analytics, Digital Twins, Python, Solidity, JavaScript, Team Collaboration, Research Publication, Presentation Skills, Problem Solving, Project Management, Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills, Research Design

Industry

Higher Education

Description

Working at Durham University A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a warm and friendly place to work, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it’s also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community. Our University Strategy is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential. Our Purpose and Values We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what their identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all. Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page The Role and Department The Department of Finance at Durham University is one of the very best UK departments with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. The department is also internationally recognised for research excellence in interdisciplinary innovation. It has an active culture of collaboration through workshops, research events, and PhD supervision within university research centres, including Quantitative Research in Financial Economics which maintains strong links with industry, policy and national and international academic partners. The Role The postholder will contribute to the UKRI-funded Great British Chemicals (GBC) Hub, a seven-year national programme bringing together 10 UK universities, industry partners, and policymakers to accelerate the transformation of the UK chemical sector towards net to zero. The PDRA will develop and apply digital technologies at the intersection of blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and sustainable chemistry. In particular, the role will involve: (i) designing blockchain architectures and smart contracts for CO2 credit tracking, tokenisation of CO2 derived products; (ii) integrating blockchain systems into AI-driven monitoring, predictive analytics, and digital twins (virtual models of CO2 conversion processes that mirror real-world performance) to support real-time optimisation. The position will evolve over time with strict deadlines. The postholder will closely work with Dr. Arzé Karam (Project Lead) and collaborators across the hub, contributing to the advancement of the project and helping to deliver the GBC Hub’s ambition to create blockchain- and AI-enabled CO2-to-products markets. Key responsibilities: To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications. To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences. To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder. To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals. To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the project lead Dr. Arzé Karam. To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research hub, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio. To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions. To design blockchain architectures and smart contracts for CO2-credit tracking, and product tokenisation. To integrate blockchain systems with AI-driven monitoring, predictive analytics, and digital twins for CO2-conversion processes. To liaise with industrial and regulatory stakeholders to ensure systems align with emerging standards and policy frameworks. To contribute to project meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagement activities. To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects. To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students. To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. To engage in citizenship, supporting the GBC hub and the wider discipline. To engage in continuing professional development and career development opportunities. The postholder will join a research project led by Dr. Arzé Karam. The role is designed to support and advance the GBC objectives, with the expectation that the postholder will contribute their own expertise, ideas and initiative while working closely with the project lead and the wider team. The successful applicant will ideally be in post as soon as possible following the interview, which is scheduled to take place on 20 October 2025. The role is primarily based at Durham University Business School / Department of Finance, but flexible and remote working arrangements can be discussed with the Project Lead to support the needs of both the project and the postholder. Working at Durham A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: You’ll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year. We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS). No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance. We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities. We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme. Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16. Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers). We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community. You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions. Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits. If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest-free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas. Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here. Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key component of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our Purpose and Values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all colleagues undertake activities that are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI. We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups. If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application. The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Leader status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role. Contact Information Department contact for academic-related enquiries For informal inquiries, please contact the Project Lead Dr. Arzé Karam at: arze.karam@durham.ac.uk. All enquiries will be treated with strictest confidence. Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time. We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays). How to Apply To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview. Submitting your application We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates. What to Submit All applicants are asked to submit: a CV and cover letter which details your experience, skills, and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the criteria set out below. Next Steps Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key collaborators on the grant. The assessment process will normally include a presentation to collaborators on the grant, followed by an interview. The interview panel will be composed of the Project lead, a Co-Principal Investigator, and a Co-Investigator on the grant. We anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place over two days, commencing on 20th of October 2025. In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date. Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data. When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas. Person Specification Essential Criteria: Qualifications A good first degree in Finance/FinTech, Computer Science or closely related discipline. A PhD in Blockchain, FinTech, AI applications or a related subject central to the research. Experience Experience in conducting high quality academic research. Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals. Demonstrable ability to present research papers at national/international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community. Experience in blockchain technologies, e.g. Ethereum, Hyperledger, Polygon, Cosmos, in smart contract programming, and in applying AI/ML within distributed systems. Skills Strong programming skills (Python, Solidity, JavaScript, or equivalent). Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings. Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Desirable Criteria - Experience Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career. A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career. Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics. Prior work on carbon markets, energy systems, or tokenisation frameworks. Experience in collaborating with industry, regulatory or government bodies. Track record of work integrating blockchain and AI approaches, or a demonstrable ability and commitment to develop this expertise within the project. Skills Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research.

Responsibilities

The postholder will contribute to the UKRI-funded Great British Chemicals Hub by developing and applying digital technologies at the intersection of blockchain, AI, and sustainable chemistry. Key tasks include designing blockchain architectures for CO2 credit tracking and integrating these systems into AI-driven monitoring processes.