Research Associate - Dubai Campus

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Heriot-Watt University seeks a Research Associate at the Dubai Campus for a fixed-term, full-time one-month project to translate IDRIC maritime decarbonisation outputs into a concise international report for policy, industry and academia. You will map and synthesise three core sources, distinguish UK specifics from broader international implications, and broaden the literature base to include IMO strategies, green corridors and digital twins, with a framing that positions IDRIC in current debates. Deliverables include a detailed outline, the full first draft, and one revision by 31 March 2026. Essential: PhD, strong maritime decarbonisation and digital twinning knowledge, literature review and report writing skills, plus teamwork. Desirable: familiarity with international, EU and UK regulatory frameworks and green shipping corridors. Tips: tailor your CV to highlight synthesis work and policy-focused writing, demonstrate fast delivery and UAE work eligibility for a March start.

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Position Title: Research Associate

Project: Translating IDRIC Maritime Research into an International report output 

Location: Dubai Campus

Grade: 7 

Position Type: Fixed-term (one month) 

Start Date: 1st March 2026 

 

Project Overview: 

This work will support the translation and adaptation of existing IDRIC maritime decarbonisation outputs into a highquality international report aimed at a global policy, industry and academic audience. 

The work will build on three core source documents: (i) the IDRIC maritime regulatory landscape research which maps international, EU and UK frameworks across seven regulatory pillars; (ii) the IDRIC Green Shipping Corridors white paper (December 2025), which positions green corridors and digital twins as nearterm instruments for decarbonisation; and (iii) the literature review summary on maritime decarbonisation, port optimisation, digital twins and green corridors. The objective is to synthesise these into a single, coherent report (e.g. focusing on green shipping corridors, digital MRV, and the interaction between IMO, EU, UK and corridorlevel governance). 

 

Key Responsibilities 

1. Mapping and synthesis 

• Systematically extract and align key findings across the three documents (regulatory architecture, decarbonisation levers, digital twin/realtime MRV, green shipping corridors, UK–China/UK–Europe route focus). 

• Identify which elements are UKspecific and which can be generalised to an international context, including implications for nonUK corridors and global south ports. 

2.International positioning and literature integration 

• Expand the literature base beyond UK/EU to include recent global evidence on IMO GHG strategy implementation, green corridors, digital twins and operational optimisation, ensuring coverage of at least Asia–Europe, transPacific and regional corridors. 

• Draft an analytically strong framing section that positions IDRIC’s work within current international debates (IMO netzero framework, FuelEU, ETS, Clydebank Declaration, Global Gateway, etc.). 

3. Deliverables and timeline 

• Initial detailed outline and target outlet proposal. 

• Full first draft, plus one revision cycle responding to coauthor comments. 

• Delivery: must be before 31st March 2026 

 

Minimum Requirements (Essential) 

Education 

• PhD in related subject area 

Essential criteria 

• Sound knowledge of the maritime industry and related decarbonisation strategies and levers 

• Sound knowledge of digital twinning 

• Skills in reviewing literature 

• Strong report writing skills 

• Strong analytical skills 

• Good communication and teamwork ability. 

Desirable criteria 

• An understanding of the maritime regulatory landscape including international, EU and UK frameworks  

• Knowledge of green shipping corridors (UK–China/UK–Europe route focus and Asia–Europe, transPacific and regional corridors)