Postdoctoral Researcher - Circular Design Toolbox Project

POST: Grade 7 Postdoctoral Researcher
Circular Design Toolbox Project
Centre for Materials Science & Culture, RCA
Location: Battersea/Hybrid (minimum 3 days on campus)

Would you like to be part of a major research initiative working at the Centre for Materials Science & Culture to help transform our Circular Design Toolbox (CDT) into a commercially available product ready for licensing, pilots and seed investment?

The Circular Design Toolbox (CDT) project is funded by the UKRI Translation: Proof of Concept 2026 scheme. The Toolbox was developed from the research of the Textiles Circularity Centre into circular design strategies including:

- Materials Circularity to innovate circular bio-based textiles (resulting in the Circular Materials Design Toolkit and the Maintaining Materials Toolkit);
- Consumer Experience to position these materials in circular experiences that slow down consumption by satiating human wellbeing needs (resulting in the Circular Experience Toolkit);
- Circular Supply Chains which put these strategies into a relationship in the form of a local supply chain design (resulting in the Circular System Toolkit).

The overarching objectives will be to:
(1) Develop and evaluate one pilot programme with partners Two Lives London and their supply chain partners.
(2) Produce a set of case studies that would enable the Centre to identify and specify a full commercialisation proposition including an IP licensing framework.
(3) Develop a minimum viable digital platform prototype to demonstrate scalable CDT delivery.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- A PhD degree related to circular design innovation in the circular economy, preferably in the area of apparel/textiles; or
- Equivalent experience in a different sector; or
- A Masters degree and significant experience in research projects.

Subject knowledge: Core knowledge in design (industrial, apparel, product); in addition to knowledge in apparel-textiles; circular design innovation and strategies; systems design and related strategies.

Experience with circular design approaches related to apparel or product design.

Experience of working in research and research projects, either academic or commercial/industrial in a topic directly related to this area of research.

Experience with development and facilitation of studies and workshops applying design methods and high levels of interpersonal skills for a range of users (industry, society/consumers, researchers, designers, stakeholders).

Communications and graphic design skills.

Evidence of producing at least two outputs in peer reviewed academic journals or one research output independent of PhD supervisor, in a topic related to this area of research.

Demonstratable understanding of good practice in research conduct (including in research ethics, research integrity and handling research data).

Evidenced flexibility and confidence to tackle a wide range of tasks, with an open, pro-active, creative, and problem-solving approach.

Evidenced excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills, able to adopt an appropriate style for a range of specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Evidenced strong interpersonal and team-working skills.

Interview Task: Candidates are asked to give a 10-minute presentation on a workshop they facilitated, preferably one that they designed, describing their approach to designing and facilitating it. Candidates may use a presentation medium of their choice. Following the presentation, candidates should bring example materials from the workshop and run part of the workshop with the interview panel for approximately 20 minutes.