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Research Fellow (BEIS NNL) - School of Metallurgy and Materials

Employer
Global Academy Jobs
Location
United Kingdom
Salary
£30,942.00 - £42,792.00
Closing date
Sep 20, 2020

Job Details

RESEARCH FELLOW (BEIS NNL) - 58449

Position Details

Area: School of Metallurgy and Materials in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £30,942 to £40,322. With potential progression once in post to £42,792 a year.

Due to funding restrictions, the maximum starting salary allowed £33,797

Grade/Band: Grade 7

Hours: Full time

Duration: Fixed-term until 31 March 2021

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

Closing Date: 20 September 2020

Job Summary

This post will contribute to the creation of knowledge by carrying out research, data collection and analysis in the field of ceramics composites for the BEIS / NNL project, working with Professor Jon Binner on a Rolls-Royce-funded project. The postholder will contribute to the leadership of the group; assist with the day to day running of the research, and work in a team environment with other co-workers and partner organisations to achieve targets within the specified deadlines. The role involves developing research objectives and proposals for research in partnership with the Principal Investigator, contributing to writing bids for research funding, and helping supervise students and interns on research related work as appropriate. The postholder will develop a thorough understanding of the physics and chemistry of ceramics composites and the different ways of processing and characterising them, including performing detailed literature surveys. They will perform detailed experimental work focused on the processing and characterisation of oxide-based ceramic composite materials and deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines, contributing to developing new models, techniques and methods. The role involves collecting, analysing and interpreting the research data gathered, including that obtained from the literature and other researchers, especially those involved in the research programme, and applying the knowledge in a way that contributes to the development of new intellectual understanding.

The postholder will work within the specified research grant funded under the Rolls-Royce programme but be willing to contribute to related projects and to receive input from other researchers, technicians and academic staff, at UoB and elsewhere. They will operate within the specific area of ceramic composite materials and advanced ceramics more generally, contribute to publications and other dissemination of the research and contribute to licensing or spinout deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and public understanding of the discipline. The successful candidate can expect to work in a supportive team environment with plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and develop expertise.

Main Duties

Specific duties:
  • Contribute to the leadership of the Ceramics Research Group run by Prof Jon Binner; assist with the day to day running of the research, including providing advice and guidance where required to other members, and work in a team environment with other co-workers and partner organisations to achieve targets within the specified deadlines.
  • Conduct own and original research
  • Develop research objectives and proposals for research in partnership with the Principal Investigator, contribute to writing bids for research funding and help supervise students and interns on research related work as appropriate. Provide guidance as required to support staff and carry out administrative tasks related to the delivery of the research.
  • Develop a thorough understanding of the physics and chemistry of ceramics composites and the different ways of processing and characterising them, including performing detailed literature surveys. By doing so, maintain an up-to-date awareness of current and emerging research relevant to the project.
  • Perform detailed experimental work focused on the processing and characterisation of oxide-based ceramic composite materials. Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
  • Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods. Collect, analyse and interpret the research data gathered, including that obtained from the literature and other researchers, especially those involved in the research programme. Apply the knowledge in a way that contributes to the development of new intellectual understanding.
  • Attend meetings with sponsors and partners, including both national and international conferences, as required and present research outputs as oral or poster presentations and assist with the writing and preparation of material for conference presentations, journal papers, regular reports to industrial partners and other media as appropriate, including assisting with the development of the final report.
  • Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration. Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities under the supervision of the Principal Investigator.
  • Decide, in consultation with the Principal Investigator as appropriate: the most appropriate way of undertaking the required research activities; how to analyse and interpret the data from the research activities; to decide what knowledge to draw on and how to apply it to develop new intellectual understanding; which aspects of the research findings to include in a presentation or a publication and how to convey the findings; what information to include in any bids for research funding and how to present the bid to maximise the likelihood of securing the funding.
  • Give guidance, support and advice to students on research related work, including PhD, master and undergraduate students, including interns, and decide the most appropriate method of providing this supervision.
  • Plan work to agreed specifications, time and quality standards; attend and contribute to subject group meetings; deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
  • Liaise, as appropriate, with research staff, support staff and external collaborators on research-related matters.
  • Give presentations and/or contribute to presentations at national and/or international conferences; referee articles for peer-reviewed academic journals; liaise with the relevant external research community via seminars and conferences and seek to disseminate information clearly and effectively and learn from the relationships as much as possible.
  • Contribute to the planning and organising of the specific research project.
  • Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort.
  • Work to agreed specifications, time and quality standards.
  • Undertake those management/administration tasks that are related to the delivery of the research.
  • Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines


Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience Required
  • Hold, or be close to completion of, a PhD or equivalent in materials science & engineering
  • Practical experience of applying skills and techniques associated with the processing and characterisation of ceramic materials and especially of oxide ceramic-based composites.
  • High level analytical capability and an ability to analyse information and communicate complex information effectively.
  • Proven ability to access and organise resources effectively.
  • Fluency in relevant models, techniques and methods and an ability to contribute to developing new ones.
  • Demonstrated understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/ administration processes.
  • Demonstrable ability to contribute to the planning and organising of the specific research project.
  • Proven ability to co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort.
  • Proven track record of working to agreed specifications, time and quality standards.
  • Demonstrated ability to undertake those management/ administration tasks that are related to the delivery of the research.
  • Demonstrated ability to deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.


Informal enquiries to Professor Jon Binner, j.binner@bham.ac.uk or telephone 0121 414 5180

We value diversity at The University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community

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