Postdoctoral Research Associate

Uowdubai; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Visa and comprehensive medical insurance

25 working days' annual leave

End-of-service benefits

End-of-service gratuity

Job summary

A prominent university in Dubai is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to contribute to a funded research project on engineered wood. The role involves operational management, conducting mechanical testing, and developing AI models. Ideal candidates will have a PhD in Civil Engineering or related fields, experience in laboratory testing, and strong communication skills. Employee benefits include visa and medical insurance, 25 annual leave days, and a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• PhD (completed or near completion) in Civil Engineering or closely related discipline.
• Strong data analysis, methodological, or technical skills appropriate to the discipline.
• Experience working in Dubai or similar regional context.
• Strong data analysis, methodological, or technical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in timber engineering.
• Experience with FEM, Digital Twins, and/or AI modelling techniques.
• Familiarity with research ethics, grant compliance, and reporting requirements.
• Experience in Dubai or regional context.

Responsibilities

• Operational management of the research project, including liaison between partners.
• Planning and leading the fabrication of engineered-wood prototypes.
• Conducting laboratory mechanical testing of engineered-wood prototypes.
• Develop, calibrate, and maintain the project’s digital twin, finite‑element model, and AI model.
• Curate and quality‑check the project’s open technical dataset for submissions and publications.
• Draft manuscripts and technical reports.

Skills

Laboratory testing of construction materials

Data analysis skills

Excellent written communication

Timber engineering experience

FEM techniques experience

AI modelling techniques

Oral communication

Timber engineering

Dubai experience

Education

PhD in Civil Engineering or related discipline

Postgraduate research experience

Tools

Digital Twins

Finite Element Modelling (FEM)

AI modelling tools

Job description

UOWD10704 - Postdoctoral Research Associate

Department: Research and Graduate Studies

Contract Type: Limited Contract Full Time

Location: Dubai

About UOWD

The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) is seeking a highly motivated and research-active Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work on a funded external research project. This is a fixed‑term appointment aligned with the duration and objectives of the awarded research grant.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for an early‑career researcher to contribute to a high‑impact research project, develop an independent research profile, and collaborate with experienced academic researchers in an internationally recognised university environment.

About the Role

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will work under the direction of the Principal Investigator (PI) and research team to deliver project outcomes in accordance with the approved grant proposal. The position holder is responsible for the operational management and technical delivery of an RDI research and development project on engineered wood. This includes day‑to‑day coordination between partners, procurement and project documentation, planning and fabrication of prototypes, conducting mechanical testing, developing and maintaining numerical and AI models, and preparing datasets, reports, and publications.

The position is research-focused and does not normally carry a formal teaching load, though limited supervision or guest lecturing opportunities may be available depending on project needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational management of the research project, including liaison between partners, drafting documents, procurement, and preparing reports and presentations (20%)
• Planning and leading the fabrication of engineered‑wood prototypes (20%)
• Conducting laboratory mechanical testing of engineered‑wood prototypes (15%)
• Developing, calibrating, and maintaining the project’s digital twin, finite‑element model, and AI model (15%)
• Curating and quality‑checking the project’s open technical dataset (mechanical, process, environmental parameters) for code‑approval submissions and journal publications (15%)
• Drafting manuscripts and technical reports (15%)

Decision‑Making Authority

• Day‑to‑day decisions related to experimental setup, modelling workflow, and project documentation.
• Improvements to laboratory manuals, experimental design, modelling approaches, and equipment requirements.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• A PhD (completed or near completion) in Civil Engineering or closely related discipline
• Demonstrated ability to conduct laboratory testing of construction materials
• Evidence of research output, such as peer‑reviewed journal articles, conference papers, or equivalent scholarly contributions.
• Strong data analysis, methodological, or technical skills appropriate to the discipline.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in timber engineering
• Experience with FEM, Digital Twins, and/or AI modelling techniques
• Familiarity with research ethics, grant compliance, and reporting requirements.
• Experience in an Australian university engineering environment or similar
• Experience working in Dubai or similar regional context

Why Join UOWD?

Be part of a globally recognised Australian university with a growing research profile.

Work on a funded project with defined outcomes and real‑world impact.

Collaborate with experienced researchers in a diverse, international academic environment.

Develop your research track record and career progression in a supportive setting.

Employee Benefits

• Visa and comprehensive medical insurance for self
• 25 working days' annual leave and public holidays
• End‑of‑service benefits and gratuity in line with UAE Labor Law and institutional policy
• Supportive and inclusive work environment

UOWD is an equal opportunity employer that attracts, develops, motivates, empowers, and retains a diverse workforce.