Context
The ambition of the Supergen ORE Hub is to accelerate the impact of current generation and future Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) devices and systems and to drive forward demonstrable contributions to the UK meeting Net Zero.
The rapid Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) expansion is essential to the UK for:
- Net Zero and climate change mitigation,
- energy security,
- green growth and jobs
Climate change mitigation: Requires ORE to be deployed 10 times faster than the current rate to meet Net Zero targets set out in the 6th Carbon budget. If we are to meet the UK plans for Net Zero, Energy Security and just transition, there needs to be a significant ramp up in underpinning research and in skills and training.
Energy security: ORE growth will mitigate the effects of the cost-of-living crisis and geopolitical instability. ORE can minimise consumer energy costs, but many research and engineering challenges need addressing to realise the scale and rate of deployment required. A fourfold reduction in project consenting time is targeted, requiring a whole system approach with interdisciplinary collaboration underpinned by an integrated research and innovation.
Green growth and jobs: The UK’s ORE industry growth underpins new high-skilled jobs, often in areas of the UK in most need of investment, supporting the levelling up agenda. With a local and abundant resource, rapid expansion of ORE for Net Zero could help to achieve a Just Transition with economic and social benefits, keeping the UK as a world leader in deployment and technology for ORE.
With an increased focus on delivering and enabling impact, the Supergen ORE Hub will drive faster ORE expansion via four high level objectives:
- Streamlining ORE projects, by accelerating planning, consenting and build out timescales.
- Upscaling the scale and efficiency of ORE devices and systems, and the ORE workforce
- Competitiveness: maximising ORE local content and ORE economic viability in the energy mix, to maximise UK benefits of the drive to Net Zero
- Sustainability: ensuring positive environmental and societal benefits from ORE; a just transition
The role of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in the transition to Net Zero
To tackle the challenges as already outlined the Supergen ORE Hub will deliver the high-level objectives and lead the contribution of ORE to Net Zero via Core Research and Area Leadership. As part of this research leadership the Supergen ORE Hub supports a ECR network of over 200 ECRs within ORE, together with a programme of activities ranging from mentoring to training. The ECR network and associated programme is a key element in the Hub strategy to help develop the UK ORE research leaders of the future. For the second phase of the Supergen ORE Hub, the Hub will continue to deliver a wide range of support and activities ECRs, building on the momentum developed in phase 1.
The ECR programme will enable ECRs to skill up and connect with more senior researchers, in the UK and internationally, creating a diverse and supportive community that nurtures the next generation of ORE research leaders. The Hub will foster growth of existing ECRs and attract new talent to the sector, upskilling the next generation of engineers and scientists to support transition to Net Zero through ORE.
ECR Lead - Call details
As part of phase 2 of the Supergen ORE Hub we are looking for two ECR leads, one lead and one deputy-lead, to represent the ECR network and to commit time to attend and engage with the Supergen ORE Hub Management Board at regular meetings. These voluntary roles are a great opportunity for the selected ECRs to engage with the Hub Directors and Advisory Board, develop their career, and help shape the direction of the support provided by the Hub to the ECR community by providing a voice for our ECR community over the next phase of the hub, i.e., 2023 to 2027.
Application process
We are seeking two ECR leads, a lead and a deputy, in order to help share load and provide continuity by offsetting appointment periods. Following the first 12 months, which will allow the initial ECR Leads to establish the roles, the positions will rotate on an annual basis with the previous Deputy becoming the Lead and a new Deputy being appointed. There will be a commitment to attend monthly online meetings with the management board over the 12-month period, in addition to representing the ECR community at the Annual Assembly and Advisory Board bi-annual meetings as required.
ECRs applying for these roles will be required to demonstrate that they meet the Hub definition of an ECR at the point of appointment (please see Appendix) and have a proactive network of contacts within the ECR community to represent their views to the Management Board. Applications are welcomed in the following format:
1) A 1-page (A4) CV that clearly states career stage to satisfy eligibility.
2) A 1-page (A4) statement which outlines why you feel you will be suitable for either of the roles (Lead or Deputy – which should be clearly marked as to which), including the reasons for applying, a commitment to the minimum of 12 monthly meetings plus the Annual Assembly, and an indication as to your connection with the ORE ECR community.
All documents should have a minimum of 20 mm margins on all sides and adopt a font of not less than 11pt. The documentations should be combined and submitted as a single pdf by email to SupergenOREHub@plymouth.ac.uk with the subject line: “Supergen ORE Hub ECR Representative Application 2023/24 – (Applicant Surname)” by the deadline of 5pm (BST) 27th October 2023
Assessment process
All eligible applications submitted in accordance with the process outlined in this document will be reviewed by the the Supergen ORE Hub Directors, and a decision will be made within 3 weeks of the application deadline with announcements made on or before 17th November 2023.
Queries
For any queries about the role of ECR representative please email SupergenOREHub@plymouth.ac.uk with the subject line: “Supergen ORE Hub ECR Representative – Queries”.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
The Supergen ORE Hub supports the value of the diversity of its staff and stakeholders, enabling all to realise their full potential by valuing the contribution of everyone and recognising and harnessing the benefits that differences can bring. The Supergen ORE Hub is committed to eliminating unlawful discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity and good relations across and between the defined equalities groups in all their relevant functions. Accordingly, no eligible applicant will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity or national origins, religion, or similar philosophical belief, spent criminal conviction, age or disability. Equally, all applications will be assessed on equal terms, regardless of the sex, age and/or ethnicity of the applicant. Applications will therefore be assessed and graded on their merits, in accordance with the criteria and the aims and objectives set for the call. If you are employed by an eligible UK institution and satisfy EPSRC’s current regulations on investigator eligibility you are eligible to submit a proposal, regardless of your nationality or ethnicity.
Appendix
ECR definition
Eligibility for this call for an ECR Lead is limited to Early Career Researchers who are either:
• Early Career Academic Staff (less than 3 years from first academic appointment),
• Post-Doctoral Research Assistants.
Whilst the wider Hub ECR network includes and welcomes final year PhD students it is felt that the role of ECR Lead is better suited to those ECRs who are further developed in their academic career.
