Research Fellow - Mechanical Engineering

Research Fellow - Joint UK-India Clean Energy Centre (JUICE)

This EPSRC funded position is available within Mechanical Engineering at the University of Southampton as part of an innovative project focussed on developing the energy storage, solar photovoltaic (PV) and smart grid integration within the UK and Indian systems. These two countries have seen very rapid installation of PV since both countries introduced their respective market stimulation programmes which has had a very significant impact on the power system and may endanger quality of supply or grid reliability. JUICE will focus on tools to understand and quantify the associated issues, find the most economical way to ameliorate or control the issues generated.

This Research Council funded consortium, entitled Joint UK-India Clean Energy Centre (JUICE), is led by the University of Loughborough and includes the Universities of Warwick, Exeter, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Swansea, Imperial College London and the University of Southampton as partners.

The main focus of research will be assisting the development of an energy storage modelling platform to include core characteristics of various energy storage technology options (e.g. of cost effective and commercially available supercapacitor, battery or flow cells). You will establish a database of realistic input parameters which will be acquired through both laboratory and demonstrator testing from UK and India, in addition to multi-scale models of the energy stores.

You will take a day-to-day lead on delivering against the key research challenges of developing such an energy storage modelling platform:

It is essential you have a PhD* or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in energy storage, power electronics or a renewable energy systems related area. Ideally you will also have an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering or other Engineering/Maths related discipline. A good working understanding and knowledge of power electronics, hardware, software and control, including both simulation and hardware implementation, is essential. As a consortium project, you will be required to liaise with other relevant partners regarding aspects of this work and plan and manage consortium demonstration activities as well as local prototypes. The ability to travel to present at project meetings and workshops in the UK, India, national and international conferences, and assist with the production of project report and management documentation is essential.

This is a full time post and it is anticipated the project will last 12 months (dependent upon continued funding). The post is availible from 1st July 2019 (start date will be negotiated at interview).

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Professor Andrew Cruden, Energy Technology Research Group, Email: A.J.Cruden@soton.ac.uk , Tel: +44 (0) 2380 59 7660.

More details can be found at: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/engineering/research/groups/energy_technology.page

Application Procedure

You should submit your completed online application form at https://jobs.soton.ac.uk . The application deadline will be midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need any assistance, please call Hannah Farrance (Recruitment Team) on +44 (0) 23 8059 2507. Please quote reference 1154419DA-R on all correspondence.

* Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD.Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Please note that applications from agencies will not be accepted unless indicated in the job advert.