Research Associate

The University of Portsmouth is a global employer of choice where exceptional people create, share and apply knowledge that makes a difference.

Experience the pride of being part of a select group – one of only four universities in the south-east of England to achieve a prestigious Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework. Additionally, we proudly rank among the top 140 universities globally in the Times Higher Young University World Rankings.

Ambition, Responsibility and Openness drive our every endeavour. Join our esteemed institution with a proven track record of success, and where dedication to excellence is key. We want people to make their mark in a professional community that truly values people, innovation, and achievement.

The Global Plastics Policy Centre, based at the University of Portsmouth’s Revolution Plastics Institute, is a world leader for evidence-based plastics policy research. We work with governments, international organisations, industry partners and NGOs to evaluate existing policies, identify what works, and support the development of effective, context-sensitive solutions to tackle plastic pollution. Our work spans local, national and international scales, with a focus on policy design, governance processes, and systems change. We often work across disciplines.

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Research Associate to contribute to our growing portfolio of applied research projects. The postholder will play a key role in supporting the Centre’s work on policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and research dissemination.

The Centre is housed within the Revolution Plastics Institute, a mission driven institute that is putting research into practice, addressing plastics pollution and generating a globally-relevant community of plastics researchers. This role therefore offers an opportunity to contribute to real-world impact in an area of urgent environmental and governance importance, while working as part of a dynamic, interdisciplinary team.

Whilst there is a need to be in Portsmouth a few days a week, hybrid working is available for this role.

The interviews are currently anticipated to be held on 09 September 2025.

This appointment is a fixed-term contract (until 31 October 2026). For internal candidates it may be possible to apply for this role under the Secondment Policy . If you wish to apply as a secondee, you must have approval of your line manager in advance of submitting your application form. Please confirm in your application that your line manager has approved this.

If you have any queries regarding this position, please contact Antaya March at antaya.march@port.ac.uk

Prior to submitting your application, kindly ensure that you can either demonstrate or acquire the necessary right to work in the UK. If you currently do not possess the right to work in the UK, please be aware that our offer of employment is conditional upon you obtaining it.

We are strongly dedicated to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) within our community. As an Athena SWAN and Race Equality Charter award holder, a member of Stonewall and a Disability Confident Employer we are passionate about creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, regardless of your background. We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills, perspectives and experiences. In addition, we want our workforce to be representative of our diverse student population. Please see our EDI Framework and objectives.

Please note that this vacancy may be closed earlier than advertised, so early applications are advised.