The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is partnering with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to fund a programme coordinator for the Aviation’s non-CO2 Impacts on the Climate programme. The coordinator will be responsible for the delivery of cross-programme integration, stakeholder engagement and communication across the wider landscape to maximise the outcomes and impacts of the programme.

The Aviation’s Non-CO2 Impact on the Climate programme is focused on two aspects:

• Improving understanding of aviation’s non-CO2 impacts and reducing the current scientific uncertainties. This includes contrail cirrus, nitrogen oxides and other non-CO2­ emissions such as water vapour and particulates like soot and sulphur.
• Identifying and developing mitigating actions to address those impacts. This includes, but is not limited to, technology development, sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen aircraft (both direct combustion and fuel cells), contrail prediction and avoidance, reducing aromatic content of kerosene and carbon pricing.

The programme, while managed as a whole and overseen by a single programme board, will be split across two funding lines. There will be one for academic-led fundamental research projects commissioned by NERC, and one for industry-led applied research projects commissioned by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). The programme coordinator will have oversight of activities across the breadth of the programme, leading integration, collaboration and maximising impacts.

Direct liaison with industry, academia, other stakeholders (eg policy users) and other relevant groups will be essential to ensure the successful delivery of the programme. The coordinator will work with the programme board and the programme team, working collaboratively and responsively to direction, as well as responsively to the changing landscape throughout the lifetime of the programme.

Projects are required to have a project lead based in a UK research organisation eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding (ie approved higher education institutions, research council institutes, independent research organisations, public sector research establishments and Catapults).

NERC individual eligibility rules also apply; individuals can be at any career stage.

Project co-leads can be based at UK research organisations eligible for NERC funding, UK businesses, third sector organisations and government organisations.

The full economic cost (FEC) of the project can be up to £478,750; 80% of the FEC will be funded (meaning £383,000). The programme coordinator will be in post from no later than December 2025 until 31 March 2028.

Applications open on 11 July 2025 and must be submitted by the deadline of 18 September 2025 (16:00).