Research Associate/Senior Research Associate

  • Lancaster University
  • United Kingdom, ENG
  • Jun 24, 2026
  •  

    Job Description:

    Lancaster University is seeking to appoint a Research Associate/Senior Research Associate for the Downscaling and Integration of Coarse Open Data for Enhanced Rapid Analytics EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) project. This will be offered at grade 6 or grade 7.

    This is a collaborative project between Lancaster University and JBA Consulting focused on water resource protection (use cases related to monitoring of Source Protection Zones, SPZs). You will work at the interface of academic research and applied innovation, helping translate research into evidence suitable for commercial and regulatory deployment.

    Role responsibilities

    As part of a friendly, multidisciplinary team, you will be responsible for:

    • collating and analysing EO data
    • assessing, designing and implementing downscaling algorithms
    • scoping algorithm integration into analytical workflows
    • writing up findings for presentations and possible publication
    • disseminating findings to key stakeholders
    • maintaining information security, ethical and quality standards.

    About you

    We are keen to hear from candidates who have:

    • a PhD (completed or near completion) in statistics, applied mathematics, geospatial/ environmental data science or computer science.
    • demonstrable programming skills (e.g., Python, R) and experience handling spatial datasets.
    • experience of probabilistic modelling, geostatistics, or machine learning.
    • ability to work independently while engaging effectively with academic and industry sectors.

    Why work with us?

    This study is located within the JBA hub at Lancaster University, embedded within LEC, with occasional travel to JBA Group’s Head Office in Skipton.

    LEC is a world-leading interdisciplinary centre tackling global environmental challenges. Our researchers work at the intersection of environmental, biological and geographical sciences, partnering with national centres and global institutions. Find out more here: LEC. Lancaster is a research-intensive university. REF 2021 rated 99% of Lancaster's overall research environment as 4* 'world leading' or 3* 'internationally excellent'. The Lancaster campus is a pleasant and yet stimulating place to work. Extensive facilities on-site include a sports centre, shops, cafes, a multi-faith centre, pre-school, post office and a class-leading library.

    Lancaster University offers a comprehensive package of benefits including:

    • competitive salary with annual reviews.
    • generous employer pension scheme.
    • generous leave entitlement.
    • family-friendly approach to those with parental or caring responsibilities.
    • additional flexible benefits.

    You will benefit from:

    • bespoke researcher induction/development programme.
    • varied organisational development programme.
    • researcher development days.

    Find out more here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/jobs.

    This post is offered on a full-time, fixed-term basis with funding for 15.5 weeks, with a requirement for a minimum of 3 days on campus in the JBA hub. Up to four visits may be required to JBA Head Office in Skipton (travel supported).

    To find out more about joining our team and an informal chat about the role, please contact Professor Peter Atkinson at [email protected] or Professor Rob Lamb at [email protected].

    Closing Date: 07 Jul 2026

    Department: Academic

    Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 (Full-Time/Indefinite with End Date)



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