Imperial College London

London, United Kingdom (Hybrid where applicable)

Imperial College London is recruiting a Research Associate to contribute to a major international research programme focused on advancing hydrological and water system modelling through improved integration of local data, participatory knowledge, and innovative data infrastructures. The role is based within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and forms part of a large interdisciplinary consortium addressing global water security challenges.

The postholder will work on developing and delivering a key research work package aimed at improving the co-production, stewardship, and scalable use of local and non-traditional data sources in hydrological science. The research will focus on bridging scientific modelling frameworks with community-generated data and alternative sensing approaches to enhance understanding of water systems and their governance.

Key responsibilities include benchmarking and evaluating diverse and non-conventional datasets such as citizen science observations, participatory monitoring outputs, and local expert knowledge. The role also involves prototyping and testing novel sensing and data-processing technologies, and developing inclusive methodological frameworks for equitable data co-production. The successful candidate will contribute to high-impact academic publications, collaborate with international research partners, and support external research funding applications.

Eligibility Criteria:

• A PhD in Hydrology, Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research/industrial experience
• Demonstrated experience in research environments with evidence of peer-reviewed publications
• Strong knowledge of hydrological data collection, curation, and analytical methods
• Ability to conduct systematic literature reviews and synthesize research findings
• Experience working with quantitative and computational methods relevant to environmental systems

Required Expertise/Skills:

• Advanced programming and data analysis skills, particularly in Python or R
• Experience in hydrological modelling or environmental data systems
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Familiarity with participatory science, citizen science, or non-traditional data sources is advantageous
• Ability to work within interdisciplinary and international research teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for academic publication and stakeholder engagement
• Experience contributing to research proposals and grant applications is desirable

Salary Details

£49,017 – £57,472 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications

Application Deadline

28 April 2026

Application Link

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