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

The Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change Hub is advertising four, short-term research contracts 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 9:00am BST on Monday 14 July 2025. Candidates will be informed of the outcome by w/c Monday 28 July 2025, with the expectation that the successful candidate will be in role by Monday 11 August 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 roles 

The MACC Hub are seeking to carry out desk-based research on four topics. Please click the link to read the full research brief and role description: 

1. Trade-offs and co-benefits for on-farm climate adaptation choices 

Working with the agri-food climate adaptation team in the Defra to assess the trade-offs and co-benefits of a series of proposed adaptation actions within the agricultural sector. 

Click here for the research brief. 

2. Policies to address food system vulnerabilities to climate change in the UK 

Working with the agri-food climate adaptation team within Defra to research what other countries are doing to reduce food system vulnerability to climate change, and best practice that could be applicable in the UK. 

Click here for the research brief. 

3. Health impacts of overheating on vulnerable prisoner cohorts and associated policy solutions 

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 research brief. 

4. Adaptation within the Decent Homes Standard 

Working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand how climate change adaptations could be reflected in the Decent Homes Standard. 

Click here for the research brief. 

We are seeking researchers to join the KCL MACC Hub team for approximately four months to carry out the research. The successful candidates do not have to be based in London, but will be expected to travel to London to work with the government team and attend training at KCL. Successful candidates will join an interdisciplinary team, becoming part of the MACC community, benefit from expert mentorship, and produce actionable, open-access research to inform UK climate policy. 

How to apply 

Please see each of the research briefs for full details of the project and person specification. To apply, please provide, in no more than 5 pages, the following information: a description, of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria (2 pages); a proposed timeline and working pattern (1 page); and a short CV (2 pages).  

The submission deadline is 9:00am BST on Monday 14 July 2025. Candidates will be informed of the outcome 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.