Empower Future Leaders.
Doing things differently.
Research Fellow
Salary- £33,045 - £38,026 per annum
Full time/ fixed term for 2 years
About the Role
As a Research Fellow in Innovation, Creative Practice and Venture Development, you will support the delivery of the UKRI-funded Entrepreneurship, Art and Science for Environmental Sustainability (EASE) project. EASE brings together climate scientists, artists, entrepreneurs and cultural institutions to develop new, scalable approaches to climate communication that are scientifically robust, emotionally resonant and socially impactful.
You will join the Centre for Business and Industry Transformation (CBIT), a rapidly growing research and innovation centre within Nottingham Business School focused on measurable business, industry and societal impact through applied research, venture building and personalised education.
CBIT integrates rigorous research with venture-building practice and disruptive leader education. Our work connects researchers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to design, test and scale transformation in the age of AI and digital disruption. The Centre was founded by the team behind the UK’s top-ranked Entrepreneurship Education Programme and has an outstanding record of accelerating more than 100 innovative ventures.
With a £4.5 million live project portfolio, CBIT operates through three pillars: Applied Research, Venture Building and Personalised Education. Together, these transform how organisations innovate, scale and adapt. The CBIT Venture Builder was recognised as Innovation Champion 2024 for its pioneering model of turning academic research into scalable business impact.
Advanced AI capability is central to this role and to the delivery of EASE. We are looking for someone whose use of AI goes well beyond simple prompting or basic LLM use. You will be expected to demonstrate advanced, practical and responsible use of AI across the full range of EASE activities, including interdisciplinary research, literature and evidence synthesis, creative ideation, venture-building, prototype development, pilot design, evaluation, impact modelling, stakeholder engagement and the production of high-quality project outputs.
You will use AI-enabled tools and workflows to help translate early-stage interdisciplinary ideas into viable, testable and scalable models. This may include using AI to support opportunity mapping, user and stakeholder insight, value proposition development, scenario testing, audience analysis, experiment design, rapid prototyping, pilot planning, qualitative and quantitative analysis, synthesis of feedback, visualisation, reporting and the development of toolkits, methods and impact assets.
You will need to apply appropriate academic judgement when using AI, including transparency, data governance, ethics and research integrity. As part of the interview process, candidates will be asked to demonstrate live how they use AI to facilitate research, innovation and project delivery activity relevant to EASE.
In this role, you will support structured innovation and design processes within EASE, helping to translate interdisciplinary ideas into clear, testable and scalable prototype models. Working closely with colleagues in CBIT, Nottingham Design School and external creative, cultural and community partners, you will contribute to prototype development, evaluation frameworks, project reporting, toolkits, publications and stakeholder-facing outputs.
You will bring strong research capability, excellent organisation and communication skills, and the ability to work across business innovation, creative practice, sustainability and impact. You will have a strong interest in AI-empowered research and innovation, and the confidence to apply AI-supported tools in complex interdisciplinary settings.
This role would suit an early-career researcher who is curious, collaborative, AI-capable and impact-oriented, and who wants to build experience in externally funded interdisciplinary research while contributing to CBIT’s entrepreneurial and applied research culture.
For more details, please take a look at the role profile. We'll still consider applications even if you don't meet every single one of the requirements, so don't be put off if you don't match them perfectly.
Interview date: TBC
About Us
Nottingham Business School (NBS) delivers research and education that combine academic excellence with real-world impact on people, business, and society.
We lead in experiential learning and personalised education, and our research drives positive change across social and economic spheres. This informs all our programmes, from undergraduate to doctoral.
With strong partnerships across business, public, and voluntary sectors, NBS is known as the business school for business. We hold the prestigious Triple Crown Accreditation (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA), placing us in the top 1% of business schools worldwide. Discover more on our website.
At NTU, we do things differently. Join one of Europe’s largest and most innovative business schools to help shape inclusive research and make a real difference.
For any informal queries about the role or the team, please contact Xiao Mo Professor and Director of Centre for Business Transformation at xiao.ma@ntu.ac.uk
Join Us
- 30 - 35 days annual leave per year plus statutory bank holidays and 5 university closure days pro rata
- Hybrid working - we encourage and offer a mixture of office working and working from home. You're empowered to define how you work best for the benefits of your stakeholders.
- Flexibility - take ownership over how you get your work done. We're open to different working patterns and approaches.
- Salary Sacrifice Retirement Savings Plan with life assurance and income protection. Available to colleagues who choose to opt out of the contractual pension scheme. Minimum colleague contributions of 0% matched with minimum NTU contributions of 8%.
- Access to a wealth of formal and informal professional development opportunities to develop your skills and advance your career.
- Range of health and wellbeing services, including a Health Cash Plan, voluntary benefits, discounts, and savings for all colleagues.
- And a whole lot more…Find out more about the range of benefits we offer.
Come and be part of our success. Apply today.
Safe and Inclusive
At NTU, we continue to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our students and colleagues. By championing positive wellbeing, we promote an environment where all can thrive and reach their full potential. We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring and we encourage people from underrepresented communities and backgrounds to apply to join our team.
Please note that unfortunately, this role has been assessed as ineligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration points-based immigration system however, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. For more information visit the Government Skilled Worker visa support page. However, applications are welcome from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK, but who would be eligible to obtain a valid visa via another route. Please consult the Home Office website for further information.
Please note that this role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and successful applicants will be asked to declare any unspent criminal convictions.
