Research Assistant in AI-Enabled Energy Analytics for NHS Estates (VITALS)

Research Assistant in AI-Enabled Energy Analytics for NHS Estates (VITALS)

Job description

School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering

Full-time (37 hours per week)

Fixed-term contract; for approximately nine months

Join us and be part of a vibrant community at Loughborough University.

Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for:

We are seeking a Research Assistant for VITALS (Variational Inference of Trust-level Activity from Load Signatures in NHS Hospitals), a project supported by the Smart Energy Data Service (SENSE). We explore whether hospital energy-use patterns can provide useful indicators of activity and inform sustainable NHS estates management.

Under the Principal Investigator’s supervision, you will prepare and quality-check half-hourly energy data; assist with time-series analysis, clustering and established statistical and machine-learning methods; and evaluate and document results. You will also support suitable contextual data integration, reproducible coding, technical reporting and summaries for NHS estates stakeholders.

About the University

Universities are one of this country’s greatest assets. We’re educators, employers, innovators and pioneers. We shape culture and society.

At Loughborough, we strive for better, think differently, challenge convention and take action. We are passionate about finding solutions to the major problems faced by society and the planet, and we create opportunities for those with the drive, the ambition, and the determination to apply themselves in the pursuit of better.

About the Department

The School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering brings together research and teaching in sustainable buildings, infrastructure and digital technologies. We connect engineering and data-driven methods with industry and public-sector partners, including healthcare estates, to address energy efficiency, resilience and net-zero challenges.

About You

· You have a degree in data science, computer science, engineering, applied mathematics, energy, the built environment or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.

· You have experience using Python or an equivalent programming language to analyse numerical or time-series data and apply or evaluate established statistical or machine-learning methods.

· You can work carefully with data, document findings, communicate clearly and collaborate effectively. You are willing to follow information-security, confidentiality and research-integrity requirements.

· Experience with energy or operational datasets, clustering, uncertainty analysis, transfer learning or reproducible coding would be advantageous, but is not essential.

Why should you Apply?

With huge amount of variety in the role, there is an opportunity for you to develop and continually grow.

If this sounds like the right place, team and role for you please do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Kambiz Rakhshanbabanari, via email to K.Rakhshanbabanari@lboro.ac.uk or by telephone to 01509 226806.

For more information refer to theJob Description and Person Specification.

Application Process

For further support with your application, please refer to our application guidance, which includes some top tips to help you when completing your application.

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process. If there are additional adjustments, you’d like to request please contact Dr Kambiz Rakhshanbabanari. We also offer reasonable adjustments on the job.

Closing Date: 22nd November 2026

Our Benefits

At Loughborough, our benefits are designed to support your life inside and outside of work, helping you to thrive and feel valued as part of our community. Examples of our benefits include:

Time off - generous holiday allowance, including 14 university closure days and bank holidays, with the option to buy extra through our holiday purchase scheme.

Where you work - access to a range of fantastic facilities with plenty of green space across our 523-acre East Midlands campus, plus an exciting community at our London campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Financial Wellbeing - competitive pay, two excellent pension schemes, and everyday savings opportunities.

Support for you and those close to you - through our range of life event leave policies as well as access to an on-site nursery at our East Midlands campus, flexible and hybrid working options.

Health and Wellbeing - discounted gym memberships and access to world-class sporting facilities, including physiotherapy, plus healthcare offers such as eyesight testing and wellbeing support.

Travel and sustainability - access to our electric vehicle and cycle-to-work schemes, as well as a variety of travel offers to support sustainable commuting.

Discover more about the full range of rewards and benefits at Loughborough University.