Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change Hub: Policy Response Unit call for applications

The Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change Hub is advertising for a short-term research contract as part of its Policy Response Unit, that aims to provide the evidence the UK government requires to advance adaptation policy.  

The submission deadline is 17:00 BST on Monday 22 September 2025. Candidates will be informed of the outcome by w/c Monday 6 October 2025, with the expectation that the successful candidate will be in role by w/c 20 October 2025.

About the Hub 

The Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) Hub works across the UK to implement and build crucial evidence on the efficacy of adaptation policy and interventions. The Hub is led by King’s College London and is funded by Defra and UKRI. Through its Policy Response Unit, the Hub is working closely with Defra as well as other UK Government departments to coordinate a series of rapid turn-around research projects that will fill critical knowledge gaps relating to climate change adaptation.

About the Policy Response Unit 

The Policy Response Unit (PRU) of the MACC Hub responds directly to policy questions from the UK Government, in consultation with the Devolved Administrations. It provides timely and targeted advice to government departments responsible to responding to risks identified through the Climate Change Risk Assessment process. The research has been requested directly by these teams across government to inform their adaptation actions under third National Adaptation Programme. The PRU will issue three calls for research over the next three years. 

About the role 

The MACC Hub is commissioning desk-based research on the health impacts of overheating in vulnerable prison populations and related policy solutions. This involves working with the Ministry of Justice to advance understanding on the interdependencies between climate change, vulnerabilities, and health and wellbeing in the justice estate. 

Click here for the job description.

How to apply 

Please see the job description for full details of the project and person specification. To apply, please provide, in no more than 8 pages, the following information: proposal (max. 5 pages); experience of the team (max. 2 pages); and a budget (max. 1 page).  

The submission deadline is 17:00 BST on Monday 22 September 2025. Applications should be submitted by email to MACCFlexiblefund@kcl.ac.uk.

Candidates will be informed of the outcome by w/c Monday 6 October 2025, with the expectation that the successful candidate will be in role by w/c 20 October 2025. me by w/c Monday 28 July 2025, with the expectation that the successful candidate will be in role by Monday 11 August 2025. 

Equity is central to the MACC Hub and the funding call, and we encourage applications from early career researchers, groups under-represented in the climate change adaptation field, and those with non-traditional career paths. We are happy to discuss alternative working patterns with the successful candidate.  

Please email any questions or queries at MACCFlexiblefund@kcl.ac.uk  

Personal data 

The MACC Hub will need to collect some personal information to manage your funding accounts, applications and contracts. All application materials, reviewer comments, and monitoring reports will be stored securely by King’s College London as the administering institution. Personal data (e.g., name, contact details, institutional affiliation) will be collected solely for the purposes of application processing, award management, and UKRI reporting. Unsuccessful applications will be permanently deleted within 12 months of the call deadline. 

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice here.