The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

Poor air quality presents some of the most pressing sustainability and public health challenges for the city of Sheffield.The climate crisis continues to exacerbate the issue of poor air quality making it even more complex to tackle. It affects not only the health and wellbeing of the population, particularly vulnerable communities, but also the City’s ability to create and sustain a skilled workforce. This fellowship will work alongside Sheffield City Council to explore these complex and interconnected issues, building a robust evidence base to inform policy and practice.

South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre and the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures will host this new Sustainable Futures Impact Fellowship. The Research Associate will work closely with partners to investigate the impacts of poor air quality on health outcomes, and how these outcomes in turn shape workforce capacity and economic resilience. The role will take an interdisciplinary and systems focussed approach, combining synthesis of existing evidence with the generation of novel, regionally focused insights in order to support the Sheffield City Council public health team while they develop the scope for a new clean air strategy. 

Rather than seeking a single solution, this fellowship will deepen understanding of the challenges facing Sheffield, while identifying potential ways of working and broader recommendations to support positive change. The Fellow will play a vital role in producing accessible, policy-focused outputs that connect research with practice and decision-making.

This is an opportunity for a motivated researcher to deliver impactful, regionally relevant work that goes beyond reporting on air pollution, by focusing on the real-world health and economic implications for South Yorkshire.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Conduct a comprehensive review and synthesis of existing air quality, health and economic data, applying quantitative and computational techniques where appropriate to ensure robust, policy-relevant outcomes.
  
  

• Where appropriate, work with partners to generate new, regionally rooted evidence on how poor air quality affects both population health and the City’s ability to develop and sustain a skilled workforce, using quantitative, qualitative or mixed-method approaches.
  
  

• Collaborate with a wide range of regional stakeholders to ensure research reflects lived experiences and local priorities.
  
  

• Apply interdisciplinary research methods and frameworks to map the complex intersections between environmental, health, and economic challenges.
  
  

• Develop policy-focused recommendations for regional and local decision-makers, highlighting practical approaches and frameworks that can address challenges at a systemic level.

• Identify gaps in evidence and action that could form the basis of future partnership working.

• Produce accessible outputs for different audiences, including reports, policy briefs, and presentations, ensuring findings are communicated clearly and effectively.
  
  

• Present findings at regional and national forums to share insights and amplify South Yorkshire’s role in national debates on air quality and workforce sustainability.
  
  

• Contribute to knowledge exchange activities and wider networks across the University and the region.

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply.

Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

For us to learn more about you, your skills, capability and personality, please use your own words in responding to this advert, we discourage the use of generative AI tools in your application. 

Further Information

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on Thursday 19th March. This will consist of an interview and presentation, in person on Campus in Sheffield. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage as soon as possible after the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Jess Thomas at jess.thomas@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.

• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.

• Generous pension scheme.

• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.

• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).

• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.

• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways

• A range of generous family-friendly policies

  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies

  • support for those going through the menopause

  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment

  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.