Research Assistant

Overview

The University of Sheffield is seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Research Assistant to join our team on a groundbreaking project, "Heat-resilient paediatric care: Prioritising safe adaptations to overheating in children’s hospitals". This 8-month Development Award project (NIHR504238) is Phase 1 of a proposed two-phase research programme. It is funded by the NIHR Policy Research Programme and aims to establish a transdisciplinary team, build methodological foundations, and generate preliminary evidence to directly inform the application for a subsequent larger, multi-site Research Collaborations Award (RCA) project. This future RCA project is anticipated to be a 36-month study.

This project addresses critical evidence gaps to ensure all UK children's hospitals deliver safe, equitable care under extreme heat by 2050. Phase 1 pilots new heat impact assessment methodologies at Sheffield Children's Hospital (SCH).

The Research Assistant will undertake the SCH pilot study through field measurements and building energy-thermal modelling, assists developing the preliminary Heat Vulnerability Index and assessing intervention feasibility, and supports transdisciplinary team development through Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement activities.

The Role

As a Research Assistant, you will play a crucial supportive role within a multidisciplinary team, primarily focusing on executing the Sheffield Children’s Hospital (SCH) pilot study and supporting co-design activities to establish robust methodological foundations for heat-resilient paediatric care. This initial phase will directly inform the subsequent larger,

multi-site and multi-theme Research Collaborations Award (RCA) funding application. 

Main duties and responsibilities

• Conducting field measurements and climate-thermal modelling of selected zones within SCH to investigate the extent of overheating. This involves providing support for installation of environmental sensors in selected SCH zones to monitor indoor conditions and validate climate-thermal models, as well as assisting with simulations of targeted high-risk zones for heat adaptation interventions within SCH.

• Developing the preliminary Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) scheme and assessing the feasibility of heat adaptation interventions. This entails assisting with literature reviews to identify heat vulnerability indicators, and integrating and pre-processing SCH clinical, demographic, estates, and environmental datasets. 

• Supporting the application of statistical methods and spatial mapping of the HVI across SCH zones and patient groups, and assisting in evaluating the practicality, safety, and acceptability of proposed heat adaptation interventions using simulation results, relevant literature, and structured feedback from stakeholders, including PPIE contributors.

• 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 is 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.

Essential criteria

• Knowledge and skills in driving environmental simulation software such as

EnergyPlus for building thermal simulations in conjunction with field measurement calibration and validation.

• Experience with literature reviews and statistical analyses contributing to pilot testing of the HVI scheme in the SCH context.

• Available for taking up the post from 01 January 2026.

Desirable criteria

• Have successfully completed a postgraduate taught course in a relevant field, or near completion of a doctoral study.

• Experience with or demonstrated understanding of working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team

Further Information

Grade: 6.3 

Salary: £33,951

Work arrangement: Part-time 0.6 FTE

Duration: 8 months, commencing on 1st January 2026 

Line manager: Principal investigator (Dr C Peng)

Direct reports: N/A

Our website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/architecture-landscape  

For informal enquiries about this job contact Chengzhi Peng, Principal investigator: on c.peng@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place mid-December 2025. This will consist of a CV and Interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage early December 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Gemma Fearnley-Cook on g.l.fearnley-cook@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).

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.

An enhanced with barred lists DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role (opens in a new window).

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).