Research Fellow in Energy Systems Modelling Full-time

Research Fellow in Energy Systems Modelling

UCL Energy Institute – Our aim is to help to build a globally sustainable energy system, by bringing to bear multiple disciplinary perspectives to observe, analyse, model and interpret energy use and energy systems.

About the role

The Research Fellow will join the Energy Transition Modelling Lab at the UCL Energy Institute and will work on a research project funded by BYTEWISE Ltd in Kenya. The Researcher will play a central role in delivering a multidisciplinary four year project focused on quantifying current and future investment gaps in Kenya's electricity generation and transmission infrastructure.

The successful candidate will lead the development and application of electricity transmission network and energy system models to evaluate expansion pathways for centralised, decentralised and mini grid electricity systems. This will involve collecting and structuring large technical, spatial and financial datasets, applying machine learning and large language model methods for systematic analysis of planning documents and academic literature, and integrating generation and transmission analyses to assess system reliability, resilience and access outcomes.

This post is available from 1 June 2026 and is funded until 17 May 2030 in the first instance; further funding to support the post may become available.

A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have any queries regarding the vacancy, or the application process, please contact bseer-recruitment@ucl.ac.uk .

If you have specific questions about the role please contact Gabrial Anandarajah (g.anandarajah@ucl.ac.uk).

UCL welcomes applications from international applicants and has licence to sponsor individuals who require a visa. This is dependent on the post and candidate meeting eligibility requirements for visa sponsorship under UK Visas and Immigration legislation.

About you

The successful applicant will hold a PhD, or be close to completion, or a Master's degree with substantial research experience in Energy Systems, Electrical Engineering, Economics, Operations Research, Environmental Science, or a related discipline.

The candidate should also have demonstrable experience in energy system modelling, electricity network reliability modelling, power system planning, and the application of large language models or natural language processing techniques for literature mining.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits, some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit UCL Rewards and Benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.