Research Associate in Data-Driven Optimization and Machine Learning

Job number

BUS00830

Faculties

Business School

Departments

Business School

Salary or Salary range

£43,863- £57,472 per annum

Location/campus

South Kensington Campus - Hybrid

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Fixed term

Posting End Date

18 Dec 2025

About the role

We are seeking a Research Associate to contribute to the ADOPT collaboration between the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering (Imperial College London) and the JARA Center for Simulation and Data Science (Germany).

The successful candidate will develop and apply novel methods in optimisation, with a focus on surrogate modelling and uncertainty quantification, to support advanced decision-making in complex engineering systems.

This research sits at the intersection of optimisation theory, numerical analysis, and real-world applications in the process industries.

What you would be doing

As part of a high-profile international collaboration, your role will include:

• Designing and implementing new optimisation frameworks that integrate surrogate models and machine learning.
• Addressing the challenge of uncertainty in model-based decision-making pipelines.
• Developing and testing scalable algorithms for complex and nonlinear problems arising in industry.
• Working closely with academic teams at Imperial and JARA-CSD and engaging with industrial partners to ensure impact.
• Publishing high-quality research and presenting your findings at leading international conferences.

What we are looking for

• A PhD (or near completion) in optimisation, applied mathematics, machine learning, or a closely related field.
• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of optimisation methods.
• Experience with surrogate modelling, uncertainty quantification, or scientific computing.
• Excellent programming skills in Python, Julia, or related languages.
• A proactive, collaborative mindset and the ability to communicate clearly in multidisciplinary teams.

What we can offer you

• The chance to contribute to a prestigious international collaboration tackling some of the most pressing challenges in optimisation and decision-making.
• Access to world-class facilities, support networks, and industrial partnerships.
• A vibrant, inclusive research culture and dedicated career development support.
• Competitive salary and generous benefits.
• Opportunities for travel and collaboration with top-tier researchers in the UK and Germany.

Further information

You can learn more about the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering here.

This is a full-time position, fixed term position until September 2026, based at South Kensington campus (hybrid).

For further details about the role, please contact Wolfram Wiesemann at

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.

Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.

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