An exciting opportunity has been made available to support a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow in delivering a large and ambitious research programme, which will link advanced materials science characterisation and understanding with industrial processes to improve the quality of high integrity components across multiple sectors. The Fellowship (and this supporting Postdoctoral Research Associated position) is fully funded for a 4-year period by the UK government (£2.5M) and the University of Sheffield, and has industrial support from Rolls‑Royce Plc and Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd. The University of Manchester is a key academic partner, in addition to Imperial College London.
The Research Associate (PDRA) position advertised here will be hosted at the University of Manchester in the group of Dr Ed Pickering, but with supervisory oversight from Dr Daniel Cogswell at the University of Sheffield (the holder of the Future Leaders Fellowship). You will responsible for delivery of a key work package of this programme, which will involve the development of methods to characterise the microstructure of high-integrity components across engineering relevant length scales, and make predictions of the mechanical performances of the components. The approach will be validated through largescale trials, e.g., at the Advanced Forming Research Centre FutureForge facility. You will work closely with other researchers and industrial partners to provide outputs into other work packages, generating a digital representation of the microstructure of the component and mechanical property maps to be used in safety assessments. You will use state-of-the-art characterisation and testing equipment hosted by the University of Manchester and by the Henry Royce Institute in completing your research goals.
Suitable candidates for this position will have a sound background in materials characterisation techniques, and an understanding of how microstructural features effect the mechanical performance of engineering alloys. An awareness of defect tolerant design and testing techniques used to provide mechanical properties is preferred. The ability to distil complex materials science issues to be explained at all levels will be important. You will have a good track record in carrying out independent and original scientific research, and publication of research papers. You should have the ability to work and communicate efficiently with other members of the team (supervisors, students and postdocs), and collaborators outside the University. Regular reports of research progress are needed and the research plan should be adjusted accordingly. Critical analysis of experimental results and problem-solving skills are essential to this job. You will also need to write research papers, for publication in high impact research journals.
As this role involves research at a postgraduate level, applicants who are not an EEA national or a national of an exempt country and who will require sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route of the UK Visas and Immigration’s (UKVI) Points Based System in order to take up the role, will be required to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate and will need to obtain this prior to making any official visa application UKVI
As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.
Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here
Blended working arrangements may be considered
Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.
Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:
Name: Dr Ed Pickering
Email: Ed.pickering@manchester.ac.uk
General enquiries:
Email: People.recruitment@manchester.ac.uk
Technical support:
https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home
This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.
Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.
