Research Associate - Innovation Expert for the Mathematics-Driven Innovation Centre (M-DICE)

Role: Research Associate in Mathematical and Computer Science

Grade and Salary: Grade 7 (37,694 - £47,389)

FTE and working pattern: Full-time (35 hours per week), Fixed Term for 1 year. We have 2 opportunities available.

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday) 

Purpose of the role 

Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge, relevant research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation, business and industry.

Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and finance. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.

Successful candidates will be a staff member within the School Mathematical and Computer Sciences and will be working as an Innovation Expert for the Mathematics-Driven Innovation Centre (M-DICE). We welcome applications from candidates across a broad range of mathematical/computational areas, particularly including applicants with background in applied statistics or statistical data science.

An M-DICE Innovation Expert (a role comparable to the Innovation Research Associate roles (InRA) in other institutions) acts as a bridge between academic research and industrial application, driving knowledge exchange, project management, and commercialisation of new ideas.

We have funding for two 12-month positions in the first instance, with the possibility of extension.

Key Duties & Responsibilities 

• Conduct individual and/or collaborative research project(s), contributing to the design, execution, and management of the project(s), including meeting project milestones and participating in regular discussions with collaborative partners and their line manager.
• Liaise with academics, industrial partners, in collaboration with the Mathematics-Driven Innovation Centre (M-DICE) to identify and develop interdisciplinary research projects.
• Participate in meetings of the unit and prepare and deliver presentations/seminars internal and external.
• Assist with the supervision and mentoring of postgraduate and undergraduate students working on related research projects.
• Publish the results of research in reports and high-quality peer-reviewed academic journals.
• Disseminate knowledge of research advances in computational science through activities such as conference presentations, workshops, and national or international research visits.
• Any other duties within M-DICE, commensurate with the grade of the post.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

• PhD in applied/computational mathematics or statistics/data science or related fields (or close to successful completion)

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Evidence of a developing publication record
• Experience or desire to work with those from other disciplines
• Evidence of excellent administrative and project management skills
• Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work independently
• Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent time management skills including the ability to prioritise workload

Desirable Criteria

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Evidence of working in a knowledge-exchange role in the mathematical sciences 
• Evidence of success in attracting research grants/external funding and delivering on externally funded research projects
• Evidence or knowledge to support international activities
• Evidence of a basic knowledge of the Higher Education context and regulatory framework

How to Apply 

Applications can be submitted up to 23:55 (UK time) on Tuesday 21^st of July 2026.  

Please submit your CV & covering letter via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment. 

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options. 

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.  Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. 

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ . 

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University. 

About Heriot-Watt University 

At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team. 

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.