Research Fellow (SUSMAGPRO) - 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 £30,395 to £39,609. With potential progression once in post to £42,036 a year.

Grade 7

Full Time

Fixed Term for up to 3 years

Closing date: 29 September 2019

Job Summary

Based in the School of Metallurgy and Materials on the Edgbaston campus, this post will create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking original research within the SUSMAGPRO project funded by EU Horizon 2020. The successful applicant will work in the Magnetic Materials Group and with the SUSMAGPRO consortium on the joint research project to develop a recycling supply chain for rare earth magnets in the EU and demonstrate these new materials on a pilot scale within a range of application sectors. The successful candidate will have research experience in the following areas: processing of magnetic materials; working with hydrogen; knowledge and understanding of the HDDR process and of production of bonded magnets using compression and injection moulding; characterisation of magnetic materials.

The successful applicant will work in the Magnetic Materials Group and with the SUSMAGPRO consortium within the SUSMAGPRO Horizon 2020 project and contribute to writing bids, operating within their area of specialism. They will analyse and interpret research data, 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) or public understanding of the discipline or similar. They will collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews. Coordinating themselves with workers at all SUSMAGPRO partner institutions to fulfil the project targets set out within the work package descriptions, they will travel to regular meetings and project partner institutions to facilitate collaborative research according to work package descriptions. They will apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding and disseminate research findings for publications, research seminars and other mediums.

For more information about the project, please see the following links:

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/metallurgy-materials/magnets/research/index.aspx

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2019/08/Rare-earth-metal-recycling-pilot-project-launched-at-University-of-Birmingham.aspx

Main Duties

Specific duties:

• Coordinate with workers at all SUSMAGPRO partner institutions to fulfil the project targets set out within the work package descriptions.
• Travel to regular meetings and project partner institutions to facilitate collaborative research according to work package descriptions.
• Present updates and results at regular project meetings and produce reports and deliverables.
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• 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

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience Required

• Hold a first degree in relevant subject, or equivalent experience
• Hold, or be near completion of a PhD in relevant subject (or be in possession of equivalent research experience)
• Research experience in processing of magnetic materials and working with hydrogen
• Knowledge and understanding of the HDDR process and of production of bonded magnets using compression and injection moulding
• Knowledge and understanding of the characterisation of magnetic materials;
• Good interpersonal skills and experience building good working relationships to implement with SUSMAGPRO partner institutions
• Demonstrable ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Demonstrable ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Demonstrable understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/ administration processes
• Ability to contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and research project
• Demonstrable ability to co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort

Informal enquiries to Professor Allan Walton, a.walton@bham.ac.uk or telephone 0121 414 5195

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