Student Casual - Research Summer Intern The environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining - Birmingham Business School - Grade 2 - 900342
Student Casual - Research Summer Intern The environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining - Birmingham Business School - Grade 2 - 900342
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Job Description
Position Details
School or Department: Birmingham Business School
Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK
Grade/Band: Grade 2
Hourly rate: 12.69 per hour plus holiday entitlement
Casual contract from: 30/06/2025 6/8 weeks
Advert closing date: 11/05/2025 23.59 p.m.
Number of positions available: 2
Please note that this vacancy may be taken down early depending on the number of applications received. We advise you to submit your application promptly.
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years andweare equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond support them to succeed and celebrate their success.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we areand how we work.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus including main bus routes and a train station on campus we have a stateoftheart sports centre with pool shopsplaces to eat and drinkour own art gallery museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about thebenefits of working for the Universityof Birmingham
Background to the internship
Birmingham Business School (BBS) is offering paid research internships for Business School undergraduates interested in gaining experience as research assistants on projects being undertaken by BBS academics. There are 8 research projects available to apply to all of which are listed on Worklink (please visit each individual advert is see the full details of the project). You can apply to more than one if you are interested in multiple projects.
Research interns will work closely with the relevant academic(s) and will be supported to undertake a range of research tasks. Depending on the skillset of the selected students and the needs of the projects such tasks may include assisting with literature searches and literature reviews; assisting with the collection and/or analysis of primary research data; analysing data from existing data sets creating and maintaining one resources; summary project results etc.
If specific training is required for the internship this will be provided and delivered by the lead academic.
There will be additional skills/experience requirements for some specific opportunities are particularly suited to students who feel they might wish to pursue a career in academic research or are curious about academic research BBS UG students (including finalists) can apply for these are however particularly keen to receive applications from students from backgrounds underrepresented in academia.
Background to the Academic Researcher providing the project
Professor Robert Elliott is an applied economist who works at the intersection of international economics development economics environmental and energy economics and international business. He has a particular interest in cryptocurrencies the Chinese economy firm behaviour and the impact of globalisation on the environment.
Role Summary
This project is the initial stage of a project that will lead to a significant grant application between economics and finance and the intern will be expected to review the literature and begin the data collection process working with data providers and potentially interviewing Bitcoin mining companies as part of the qualitative analysis so this project has a broader mixed methods approach.
Main Duties
The environmental impact of Bitcoin mining has been a contentious issue sparking debate among policymakers environmentalists and cryptocurrency enthusiasts. At the core of this debate is Bitcoins proofofwork (PoW) consensus mechanism which requires miners to solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate transactions and secure the network. This process demands significant computational power leading to high energy consumption.
Critics argue that Bitcoin mining contributes to climate change by consuming vast amounts of electricity often derived from fossil fuels. Studies have shown that Bitcoins annual energy consumption rivals that of some small countries raising concerns about its carbon footprint. Additionally mining hardware requires frequent upgrades leading to ewaste accumulation. Detractors believe that this level of resource consumption is unsustainable and counterproductive to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
On the other hand Bitcoin proponents contend that the industry is moving toward more sustainable practices. Many mining operations are shifting to renewable energy sources such as hydropower solar and wind. Some even argue that Bitcoin mining can help stabilize electricity grids by absorbing excess renewable energy that would otherwise go to waste. Additionally advancements in mining technology and efficiency improvements in ASIC (ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit) miners have reduced energy per transaction over time.
Another point of contention is whether Bitcoins environmental impact is justified by its benefits. Supporters claim that Bitcoin provides financial inclusion censorshipresistant transactions and a hedge against inflation which outweigh the ecological concerns. Others believe that transitioning to alternative consensus mechanisms such as proofofstake (PoS) could resolve these environmental challenges.
Ultimately the debate over Bitcoins environmental impact hinges on the industrys ability to adopt sustainable practices while maintaining network security and decentralization. The future of Bitcoin mining may depend on regulatory policies technological advancements and the growing demand for greener energy sources.
Person Specification
- An undergraduate student at the University of Birmingham
- Ability to undertake a detailed literature review
- To collect and analysis data
- Conduct qualitative interviews with industry leaders.
Support provided for the internship
I have had many years of mentoring experience of academics PhD students and undergraduates. A previous undergraduate student who was an intern for me is now doing a PhD in the US and recently published a 4 rated paper with me on the topic of his internship. Students who I have spoken to about this project are keen to eventually do a PhD and I will supervise the students so they can achieve their goal.
For any informal queries please contact Kam Manku
View our staff values and behaviourshere
Valuing excellence sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.
The University of Birmingham restricts all students to working up to 20 hours per week during term time. If your application is successful and your course does not follow the usual academic term timetable (e.g. PGT PGR or PhD student) you and your supervisor must formally agree vacation periods if this role exceeds 20 hours per week. In addition to this please be aware if you are an International student you will be required to apply to the Registry for the appropriate Authorised Absence.
You are only eligible to apply to this role if you are a current University of Birmingham student. If you are not a University of Birmingham student your application will not be considered.
To work you will need to carry out a right to work checks will need to be completed prior to work commencing.
Required Experience:
Intern
Employment Type
Part-Time
