Research Fellow in Regulation for Alternative Protein (NAPIC- People Pillar)

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Overview

We are thrilled to offer an exciting opportunity for a Research Fellow to join the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC).

As NAPIC's lead researcher on the legal framework governing alternative proteins, you will contribute to cutting-edge interdisciplinary research across the Centre, collaborating with scientists, engineers, social scientists and NAPIC's industrial partners to translate scientific innovation into real-world impact. In addition to conducting research, the Research Fellow will contribute to NAPIC's capacity-building activities by delivering training on food law and regulation, international legal frameworks such as the World Trade Organization's Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), and other legal issues relevant to the development, commercialisation and international trade of alternative proteins.

NAPIC is a £38m entity (including a £15m UKRI investment) to lead the UK’s Alternative Protein Knowledge and Innovation ecosystem. NAPIC’s vision is to make alternative proteins mainstream for a sustainable planet. The centre is led by the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, Imperial College London and the James Hutton Institute, in collaboration with over 100 national and international partners. NAPIC is a cohesive pan-UK centre poised to revolutionise the UK’s agri-food sector by harnessing our world-leading science base through a co-created alternative protein strategy across the Discovery → Innovation → Commercialisation pipeline to support the transition to a sustainable, high growth, blended protein bioeconomy. NAPIC features four integrated activity streams, research to address innovation challenges, a national alternative protein knowledge base, a roadmap for a national protein strategy for the UK; workforce of the future; and accessible Innovation facilities.

NAPIC includes alternative proteins for food and feed applications so regulation concerning novel foods, animal welfare and standards for feed, and regional and international trade including deforestation regulation’s impacts on access to inputs like soya etc are critical to the work that the Research Fellow will undertake.

Based at the University of Sheffield, this role is part of the People Pillar and the Research Fellow will conduct research which will identify, interrogate and inform the multiple interconnected regulatory pathways and barriers to support the innovation challenges of NAPIC.

The NAPIC innovation challenges can be read in more detail here, and include:

• Unlocking Nature’s Potential
• Protein Discovery
• Structuring For Functional And Nutritional Benefits
• Enabling Sustainable Bioprocessing at Scale.
• New Metrics and Standards for Product Quality and Environment
• Acceptability and Accessibility

Main Duties And Responsibilities

As a Research and Innovation Fellow, your main duties will include:

• Designing, planning and conducting a programme of investigation, in consultation with senior academic colleagues in NAPIC
• Developing research that identifies how legal and regulatory frameworks can support responsible innovation, commercialisation and market uptake of alternative proteins while maintaining high standards of food safety, consumer protection and public confidence.
• Seeking opportunities to collaborate with relevant commercial stakeholders to accelerate innovation, promote commercialization of the scientific discovery and provide training in regulatory aspects of alternative proteins;
• Undertaking legal and policy analysis of the regulatory framework governing alternative proteins, including emerging processing and production technologies such as precision fermentation and gene editing, to identify regulatory gaps, overlaps and inconsistencies, and to develop evidence-based recommendations that support innovation and market uptake.
• Conducting literature reviews in the areas of domestic food law and policy, the regulation of agricultural inputs (e.g. fertilizers/seeds), customs requirements (e.g. food quality standards, plant health regulation, food safety and labelling requirements, international trade law as it relates to food trade (including the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and Windsor Protocol); the UK’s post-Brexit trade agreements and global supply chain implications for alternative proteins, together with regulatory frameworks with key linkages to alternative protein supply chains, including animal welfare.
• Making a significant contribution to the dissemination of research results by publication in leading peer-reviewed journals, and by presentation at national and international meetings;
• Working independently and as part of a larger team of researchers, both internally and externally and engaging in national or international knowledge-transfer activities and relevant alternative protein micro-credential development such as Food Law and Regulation where appropriate;
• Contributing to the supervision of junior researchers and PhD students and acting as a mentor to less experienced colleagues;
• Contributing to and leading on the development of funded research projects aligned to the key innovation challenges in NAPIC.
• Maintaining your own continuing professional development;
• Contributing to, and encouraging, a safe working environment.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post