Job reference REQ260348
Date posted 02/06/2026
Application closing date 18/06/2026
Location Loughborough
Package Specialist and Supporting Academic Research grade 7 from £47389
Job description
Senior Research Associate – Advanced AI Models and Optimisation Algorithms for Supply Chain Planning and Scheduling
Business School
Full Time and Fixed Term for 9 months (Subject to Funding)
About the University
Universities are one of this country’s greatest assets. We’re educators, employers, innovators and pioneers. We shape culture and society.
At Loughborough, we strive for better, think differently, challenge convention and take action. We are passionate about finding solutions to the major problems faced by society and the planet, and we create opportunities for those with the drive, the ambition, and the determination to apply themselves in the pursuit of better.
About Loughborough Business School
We are a vibrant, research‑led school with a strong reputation for academic excellence, real‑world impact and an inclusive, collaborative culture. It is among an elite global group of business schools to hold triple accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA, and was named a PRME Champion (2024–2025) for its leadership in responsible management education. The School also holds Small Business Charter accreditation and a Bronze Athena Swan Award, reflecting its commitment to entrepreneurship, equality and positive societal impact, and offers a supportive and forward‑looking environment in which staff and students can thrive.
Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for:
This project, Smart Slots: AI-Native Factory Scheduling for SMEs, is based at Loughborough Business School and addresses the challenge of helping manufacturers meet the UK’s Net Zero 2050 commitment while improving productivity and reducing waste. Funded by Innovate UK, the project is led by Dr Kamran Ali Chatha, Dr Grammatoula Papaioannou and Professor Jan Godsell, working in close collaboration with an industrial technology partner specialising in supply chain planning and manufacturing decision‑support software, alongside a network of SME manufacturing collaborators.
The project aims to develop advanced AI (machine learning, generative AI, LLMs, and agentic AI) based models and optimization algorithms that integrate carbon and productivity objectives into factory planning and scheduling. The post holder will be an integral member of the project team, contributing to developing AI based solutions, analytical modelling, and optimisation methods, and software development, while working closely with academic colleagues and industry partners to ensure practical relevance and impact for SMEs.
The post holder will develop, analyse and implement solutions, using machine learning, generative AI, LLMs, and agentic AI and optimisation models for production and supply chain planning in SMEs, with a particular focus on their integration into the software products of an industry technology partner. They will work closely with academic and industry collaborators to ensure models are robust, usable and aligned with real‑world manufacturing contexts.
If this sounds like the right place, team and role for you please do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.
Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Grammatoula Papaioannou at [email protected] or Dr Kamran Ali Chatha at [email protected].
For more information refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.
Application Process
For further support with your application, please refer to our application guidance, which includes some top tips to help you when completing your application.
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process. If there are additional adjustments, you’d like to request please contact Professor Shahin Rahimifard. We also offer reasonable adjustments on the job.
Closing Date: 18 June 2026
Interview Date: 29 June 2026
Our Benefits
At Loughborough, our benefits are designed to support your life inside and outside of work, helping you to thrive and feel valued as part of our community. Examples of our benefits include:
Time off - generous holiday allowance, including 14 university closure days and bank holidays, with the option to buy extra through our holiday purchase scheme.
Where you work - access to a range of fantastic facilities with plenty of green space across our 523-acre East Midlands campus, plus an exciting community at our London campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Financial Wellbeing - competitive pay, two excellent pension schemes, and everyday savings opportunities.
Support for you and those close to you - through our range of life event leave policies as well as access to an on-site nursery at our East Midlands campus, flexible and hybrid working options.
Health and Wellbeing - discounted gym memberships and access to world-class sporting facilities, including physiotherapy, plus healthcare offers such as eyesight testing and wellbeing support.
Travel and sustainability - access to our electric vehicle and cycle-to-work schemes, as well as a variety of travel offers to support sustainable commuting.
Discover more about the full range of rewards and benefits at Loughborough University.
