Assistant Professor in Marine Energy

Heriot-Watt University

Location:Edinburgh
Salary:£37,694 to £47,389 (Grade 7)
Hours:Full Time
Contract Type:Permanent
Placed On:2nd July 2026
Closes:19th July 2026
Job Ref:4882

Role Description

This is a unique opportunity to work alongside partners in a community at the center of marine energy development. More wave and tidal energy devices have been tested in Orkney than anywhere else globally.  Orkney is now set to become a key hub for the expanding offshore wind sector. You will also be part of a global university with 5 campus locations across UK, Dubai and Malaysia, over 3,000 staff and 30,000 students.

The UK and Scottish governments have committed to energy transition and have set ambitious targets for achieving net zero carbon. The transition to sustainable marine energy (wind, wave and tide) is full of challenges. Heriot-Watt University (HWU) is at the forefront of education and research in energy systems to achieve net zero carbon while improving social and environmental wellbeing.

This post is ideally suited to a candidate with an engineering or physics background, prepared to collaborate with multidisciplinary partners. We are interested in hearing from candidates with research interests in offshore wind, wave, or tidal technologies.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Hydrodynamics and resource assessment
  • Understanding marine energy array and device interaction
  • Application of robotics to marine renewables
  • Environmental engineering – to minimize environmental and social impact

The candidate will be expected to collaborate with academics from the wider University participating in our Global Research Institutes (GRIs).  Our GRI’s are intended to draw together academics from across the university to work on specific challenges.  The GRI iNZ+ and GRI National Robotarium are of particular significance.

The successful candidate will contribute to our masters teaching programs. Our MSc programs in Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition (RESET), are delivered from the Orkney Campus and on-line. MRE covers technical ecological and economic aspects of marine energy and is designed to help students from a variety of backgrounds to find work in the sector. The successful candidate will be expected to take a key role in teaching, and developing the curriculum, in marine energy technologies and resource assessment.

Apply here

Closing date: 19 July 2026