Research Fellow (Rolls Royce) - School of Metallurgy and Materials

Position Details

School of Metallurgy and Materials
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £40,792 to £48,677. With potential progression once in post to £54,765 a year.
Grade 8
Fixed term - up to 24 months
Closing date: 1 September 2019/
Please note, this post is open to internal applicants only.

Job Summary

Based within the School of Metallurgy and Materials on our Edgbaston campus, this role will create and disseminate knowledge through initiating and conducting original research and through publication, as appropriate to the disciplinary area in the field of fatigue crack growth and fracture behaviour of alloys and welds (in collaboration with Rolls-Royce and Baowu Steel): dwell and creep crack growth in advanced nickel-based superalloys and steel alloys at elevated temperatures. They will plan and carry out research, using appropriate methodology and techniques. This may include development of advanced novel monitoring techniques to assess crack growth in air, vacuum and under various stress profiles. The role will also require detailed expertise in fractography.

The postholder will initiate and conduct original research to deliver results within major Rolls-Royce and Baowu Steel sponsored programmes in the area of fatigue, dwell-fatigue and creep crack growth. They will plan, design and co-ordinate research activities and programmes in line with the above requirements, contributing to the development of research strategies. They will publish the results of their own research and the wider developments associated with the programme, also supervising PhD students working in the field of fatigue, dwell-fatigue and creep crack growth.

The postholder will be expected to contribute to the Department/School through management/ leadership and develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities, widening participation, schools outreach or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University.

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory DBS and BPSS clearance prior to appointment.

Main Duties

To plan and carry out research, using appropriate methodology and techniques. This may include development of advanced novel monitoring techniques to assess crack growth in air, vacuum and under various stress profiles. The role will also require detailed expertise in fractography:

• Pursue personal research including developing research ideas and winning support, including financial support
• Plan, publish and/or execute high quality research in the field of fatigue crack growth and fracture behaviour of alloys and welds (in collaboration with Rolls-Royce and Baowu Steel)
• Project manage research activities, and/or work closely with/supervise other research staff both in the University and externally with project partner (Rolls-Royce plc).
• Present findings in high quality publications and conference proceedings.
• Develop novel methodologies and techniques for the behavioural characterisation of alloys and processes.
• Supervise and examine PhD students in areas of fracture and fatigue, both within and out with the University.
• Provide expert advice to colleagues and students within discipline
• Contribute to the administration/management of research across the Department/School
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, national and international conferences and public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University
• Contribute to some administrative activities within the University, typically relating to research in facture and fatigue.
• Apply knowledge in a way that develops new intellectual understanding.
• Plan high quality research against targeted requirements of the programme
• Project manage research activities and other research staff working on the programme both internally and externally.
• Contribute to the administration/management of research across the Department/School
• Organise meetings/conferences/symposia, this will be mostly within major programme (Rolls-Royce/Strategic Partnership).
• Develop research ideas in particular examining the relationship between the microstructure parameters observed and underlying models of material behaviour (microstructure - property relationships) in complex alloys for use in arduous operating conditions.
• Decide how to develop and undertake the research in the area of the behavioural characterisation of advanced materials and processes. To include the development of novel crack growth monitoring techniques.
• Decide where and when to present research findings and which publications and conferences to target for this purpose
• Advise, supervise and examine PhD students
• Develop links with external contacts, in this programme that will be a requirement focused both on Rolls- Royce and Baowu Steel.
• Provide expert advice internally and externally in specialist area
• Referee and peer review articles for peer-reviewed academic journals and grant applications for research councils and other major funding bodies
• Act as external examiner

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience Required

• Hold, or be close to completion of, a higher degree relevant to the research area (normally PhD or EngD) or equivalent qualifications
• Extensive research experience and scholarship within subject specialism fracture, fatigue and creep crack growth.
• Experience and achievement reflected in a growing national/ international reputation.
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results.
• Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful models, techniques and methods in the behavioural characterisation of materials crack growth resistance under various stress profiles. In all cases detailed fractography will be required to assess underlying micromechanisms of crack growth.
• Extensive experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise or similar activity

Informal enquiries to Professor Paul Bowen, p.bowen@bham.ac.uk or telephone 0121 414 5186

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

Valuing excellence; sustaining investment