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Research Fellow (Novel High Temperature Zirconium Alloys) - School of Metallurgy and Materials

Employer
Global Academy Jobs
Location
United Kingdom
Salary
£30,942.00 - £42,792.00
Closing date
Oct 4, 2020

Job Details

RESEARCH FELLOW (NOVEL HIGH TEMPERATURE ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS) - 96178

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. PLEASE NOTE - Due to funding limitations the maximum starting salary available is £36,914

Band/Grade: Grade 7

Hours: Full time

Duration: Fixed-term for up to 24 months

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

Closing Date: 4 October 2020

Job Summary

The University of Birmingham is looking for a Research Fellow to create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within a funded research programme in the Knowles research group High Temperature Zirconium Alloys for Nuclear Fusion and Generation IV Fission Reactors ( www.birmingham.ac.uk/ajknowles ) on the development of Novel High Temperature Zirconium Alloys, working with Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, National Nuclear Laboratory, Rolls Royce and academic collaborators on fusion and next-gen fission materials.

The objective of the research group is to discover fundamentally new alloys for extreme environments in nuclear fusion/fission reactors, aerospace gas turbines and concentrated solar power. This involves: (1) Alloy Design supported by computation methods; (2) Production through arc melting, powder metallurgy or additive manufacturing; (3) Characterisation using advanced electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction methods; (4) Mechanical Testing and failure investigation using macro/micro-mechanical methods including novel in-situ testing.

The postholder will work on Novel Zirconium Alloys and compositionally complex 'high entropy alloys', to achieve top scientific outputs (e.g. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2019.01.006). They will be closely supported in their own development, for example: onward funding applications & Fellowships, supervision/teaching opportunities, learning new scientific skills, training courses, conferences, collaborative networks and academic/industrial secondments.

The postholder will work within the specified research grant and projects, operating within these areas of specialism - alloy development and characterisation. They will analyse and interpret research findings and results, contribute to generating funding and contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and public understanding of the discipline.

Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community, reflecting the University's commitment to equality and diversity.

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.
  • Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
  • Conduct own and original research
  • Contribute to writing bids for research funding
  • Analyse and interpret data
  • Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
  • Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
  • Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
  • Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
  • Undertake management/ administration arising from research
  • Contribute to Departmental/ School research-related activities and research-related administration
  • Contribute to enterprise, business development and/ or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
  • Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
  • Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
  • Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
  • Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
  • Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.


Person Specification
  • Hold or be close to completion of a PhD relevant to the research area or equivalent qualifications
  • High level analytical capability
  • Ability to communicate complex information clearly
  • Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
  • Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
  • Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
  • Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
  • Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
  • Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly


Informal enquiries to Dr Sandy Knowles a.j.knowles@bham.ac.uk

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

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