Impact Research Fellow - Vehicle Pollutant Emissions

Background

An enthusiastic, innovative and self-motivated person is sought for the position of Impact Research Fellow to work on the “West Midlands Air Quality Improvement Programme” (WM-Air) funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).WM-Air is a project funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) as part of their Regional Impact of Science of the Environment (RISE) scheme.The NERC RISE scheme supports the application of existing environmental science expertise to deliver regional impact - in societal, economic and policy terms.WM-Air was co-designed in collaboration with over 20 partners ranging from the Combined Authority and Local Authorities to private sector companies and industry bodies, with a geographical focus upon the WMCA region. The NERC funding will support staff, measurements, modelling activities and the development of predictive tools to enhance air quality policy and prediction. The project runs for a five-year period from early 2019.

The successful candidate will work with Professor Francis Pope and other project team members to support the ‘sources and vehicle emissions' strand of the WM-Air project.The strand combines several distinct components. Firstly it will deploy the EDAR (Emissions Detection and Reporting) remote sensing device to measure vehicle-by-vehicle exhaust emissions, details of the device can be found in Ropkins et al. (2017).

Ropkins, R., T. H. DeFries, F. D. Pope, D. C. Green, J. Kemper, S. Kishan, G. W. Fuller, H. Li, J. Sidebottom, L. R. Crilley, L. Kramer, W. J. Bloss, J. S. Hager (2017) ‘Evaluation of EDAR vehicle emissions remote sensing technology'. Science of the Total Environment, 609, 1464-1474 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.137

The strand will also involve the use of telematics data of vehicle position, speed and acceleration. The combination of remote sensing and telematics will allow for bespoke emission factors to be developed.

The successful candidate will have a good first undergraduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) area.They will also have a doctorate in a field related to measurement or modelling of vehicle pollutant emissions. Extensive experience of analysis of large data sets is required. The candidate needs to be able to deliver significant policy impact through the evaluation of clean air zones and improving the accuracy of emission predictions, which consider driver behaviour factors.

Given the collaborative nature of the project, excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required as well as the ability to meet deadlines, prepare publications, and work effectively with other members of the team. The successful applicant will contribute to the impact profile of the team through the dissemination of the project's deliverables in meetings and/or through reports and publications.

Summary of Role

This 48-month impact research fellow role will be responsible for the day to day management of the pollutant sources and vehicle emissions strand of WM-Air. This will liaise extensively with external contractors to ensure the success of the remote sensing and telematics work. They will work with contracts and other project partners to deliver an evaluation of the Birmingham Clean Air Zone.They will also develop vehicle emission factors, which take into account driver behaviour. They will help manage the technician associated with the work strand.The post-holder will also be responsible for the organisation, quality assurance and quality checking of data.

Main Duties / Responsibilities

1. Lead impact related research within WM-AIR

• Plan and manage remote sensing field campaigns, including liaising with external contractors. Carry out routine chemical analysis on the particulate matter samples collected in Birmingham and Delhi
• Plan and manage the telematics data collection and analysis, including liaising with external contractors. Contribute to the field measurements of vehicle emissions in Birmingham using EDAR
• Quality assurance and quality checking of measurement and modelling data.
• Develop and maintain an archive of large datasets.
• Integrate different data sets to generate novel emission data sets that take into account driver behaviour.
• Prepare reports and publications relating to the work strand.
• Present research and impact outcomes to national and international audiences.
• Work with external partners to deliver impact.
• Liaise with external partner organizations to maximise project output.

Person Specification

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• A good undergraduate degree in a STEM based subject.
• A doctorate in a field related to measurement or modelling of vehicle pollutant emissions.
• A good understanding of vehicle emission technologies.
• Extensive analytical skills.
• Experience of large data sets.
• An understanding of the type approval tests.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• An ability to work effectively in a team including internal and external stakeholders.
• An ability to work independently.
• An ability to generate technical and non-technical impact.