Birmingham City University

About Birmingham City University

At Birmingham City University, we are a diverse and inclusive learning community of over 31,400 students from more than 120 countries. We aim to become an exemplar anchor institution, creating and sharing knowledge for a better and more inclusive society. We are committed to providing a transformational educational experience, supporting world-class research, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment for our staff.

Recognised as one of the UK’s Top 250 employers (Financial Times & Statista), we pride ourselves on being a place where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to grow their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities.

Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands. This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking, those assumptions that position students from underrepresented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential.

By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond.

Role Summary

We are seeking a Research Assistant in Energy Systems and Digital Twin Applications to join our Department of Computer Science and support high-quality research and innovation activity across the University.

Based within a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment, this role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a DTNet+ funded project focused on AI-enhanced digital twins for improving energy efficiency in Positive Energy Districts. The post is well suited to a motivated researcher who wants to work at the intersection of energy systems, digital innovation and sustainability, contributing to research with clear industry and societal relevance.

Over a six-month period, the postholder will support the delivery of DTNet+ by focusing on the real-world application, integration and validation of the digital twin prototype. Key responsibilities include integrating real-time and historical energy data streams, supporting fieldwork and pilot case studies, contributing to performance evaluation and system refinement, and ensuring that outputs are aligned with partner requirements and operational constraints. A central objective is to help ensure the digital twin moves beyond a research prototype by being tested in practical environments and evaluated against meaningful performance criteria.

Working closely with the Principal Investigator, Dr Syed Attique Shah, the research team and external partners, you will play an important role in bridging technical research with real-world implementation. You will also contribute to stakeholder engagement activities, workshops and dissemination, helping translate project outputs into practical impact. The role sits within Birmingham City University’s interdisciplinary research environment in AI, energy systems and smart cities, offering the opportunity to contribute to applied, collaborative research with direct societal and environmental relevance.

Key Responsibilities

• Support integration of real-time and historical energy data into the digital twin system
• Assist in field visits and data collection from pilot sites
• Work with stakeholders to identify system requirements and use cases
• Support deployment and monitoring of pilot case studies
• Conduct performance analysis and validation of the system
• Contribute to workshops, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination activities
• Assist in preparing reports, policy briefs, and documentation

Essential Requirements
• A minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree in Engineering, Energy Systems, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, Games, Computer Vision or a related discipline
• Understanding of energy systems, sustainability, or smart city concepts
• Experience with data handling and basic analytical techniques
• Ability to work with interdisciplinary teams and external stakeholders
• Strong organisational and communication skills
• Willingness to travel for fieldwork and site visits
• Ability to manage workload and meet deadlines

Desirable Requirements
• MSc or PhD in Energy Systems, Smart Cities, Digital Built Environment, Games, Computer Vision or related field
• Familiarity with digital twin applications in urban or energy systems
• Knowledge of IoT systems, sensors, or real-time data integration
• Experience in stakeholder engagement or workshop facilitation
• Understanding of sustainability and Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)
• Experience working in collaborative or industry-facing research environments

Further Information

If you are excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of Department of Computer Science, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Dr. Syed Attique Shah at syedattique.shah@bcu.ac.uk.

Interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled to take place on 15 June 2026.

Why not explore our campuses using our interactive map: Interactive Map | Birmingham City University

Why work for us
• Work–life balance – Generous leave and hybrid working (role dependent).
• Career development – Opportunities to grow, develop and progress your career.
• Reward and wellbeing – Competitive pay, pension, wellbeing support and staff benefits.
• Inclusive culture – A supportive, diverse environment where everyone belongs.

Visa Sponsorship

This role does not meet the minimum salary requirements for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. We are therefore unable to consider applicants who require sponsorship to work in the UK.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to an environment that supports lawful free speech and academic freedom. We will continuously review and improve our policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that we are promoting these in all aspects of our operations. We believe that by working together, combining our many different backgrounds and life experiences, we will empower each other to reach our full potential.

Disability Confident Employer

Birmingham City University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview.