The University of Surrey hosts a prestigious EPSRC-funded Industrial Doctorate Centre offering an EngD in Sustainability for Engineering and Energy Systems (SEES). The SEES EngD is a four-year doctorate for researchers who aspire to key leadership positions in industry. The programme is academically equivalent to a PhD, but has one major difference; the student (or ‘Research Engineer’) spends the majority of their time based with a sponsor organisation, working on their commercial research priorities. They return to the University for short courses, conferences and seminars designed to develop specialist technical knowledge and exceptional business skills.

An EngD studentship is available with MARS Incorporated in Berkshire, United Kingdom where the successful candidate will be based. From the project brief:

“At Mars Incorporated we build our approach as a sustainable business on sound science. This means we always start with a quantitative understanding of our impacts and then tackle the challenge of identifying strategies to drive the impact reduction at a pace and scale consistent with best science.

As an example, building on the Planetary Boundaries model, Mars has made good progress with defining and to some extent quantifying key environmental impacts that we aim to address across our whole supply chain. However, more work is needed to agree metrics, methodologies, goals and strategies for these Planet Impacts as well as build up our programme on Social Impacts." 

The Research Engineer will work closely with the Mars Incorporated Sustainability Working Group, in support of the Mars Sustainability Leadership Team to:

• Audit and review work completed to date on corporate impact assessment across all life cycle stages (raw materials, packaging, logistics, factories, etc.)
• Identify additional available external data sets for use in impact accounting
• Support identification and development of improved methodologies across impact metrics
• Analyze corporate, global business segment and local business unit impact results to inform strategy development
• Participate in external collaborations focused on impact assessment such as The Sustainability Consortium and the World Food LCA Database project.

Person Specification

We are looking for a self motivated and confident individual with exceptional interpersonal and quantitative analytical skills.

The successful candidate will possess good project and process management skills and will encounter high levels of responsibility and ownership.

A strong communicator with a BSc Degree (First or 2.1) and/or Masters Degree in Natural Science / Environmental Science / Geography / Engineering and ability and willingness to understand and drive social science needs. Some experience of engagement with the social sciences would be a distinct advantage.

Limited overseas and UK travel is expected.

The role will be based at the Slough Factory site though allows for a level of “home working” and a need to work with a truly global team in Mars.

Funding Details

The current stipends for EngD studentships are £19,800 per annum or above (normally tax-free). To be eligible for funding, applicants must demonstrate a relevant connection with the UK (see www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTraining/StudentEligibility.htm). Please confirm in your covering letter that you are eligible for the EPSRC funding.

Closing date: Monday 29^th July (Interviews are expected to take place on Monday 19^th August)

To apply: please visit the ‘Available Projects’ section of our website (www.surrey.ac.uk/sees). For further information, please contact engd@surrey.ac.uk or 01483 684036.

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