Research Associate

gRafiKs; Bath; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university is seeking a Research Assistant in their Mechanical Engineering Department. You'll play a pivotal role in a unique research project involving additive manufacturing and collaboration with CERN. Responsibilities include designing a CO2 cooling rig and leading fluid modelling efforts with international partners. The role offers full access to world-class facilities and a commitment to professional development in a diverse and inclusive environment.

Benefits

Free counselling services

Cycle to work scheme

Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme

Staff discount at Team Bath gym

Generous employer contributory pension schemes

Generous annual leave allowance

Wide range of personal and professional development opportunities

Free entry to the Holburne Museum

Relocation allowance

Visa reimbursement for immigration expenses

Qualifications

• Experience in additive manufacturing, thermofluid systems, or high-energy physics is advantageous.
• Strong collaboration skills for working with researchers and PhD students.
• Ability to contribute to fluid modelling and experimental validation.

Responsibilities

• Design and manufacture a bespoke CO2 cooling rig.
• Engage in fluid modelling and validation work with international partners.
• Collaborate with experts from various institutions.

Education

PhD or equivalent in relevant field

Job description

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Salary

Starting from £38,784, rising to £46,049

Closing date

Sunday 11 January 2026

About The Role

We are looking for a Research Assistant to participate in an exciting project within our Mechanical Engineering Department. This is a unique opportunity to advance cutting‑edge research in additive manufacturing, thermofluid systems, and high‑energy physics, with significant potential for impact across aerospace, energy, and healthcare sectors.

As the Research Associate, you will design, manufacture, and commission a bespoke CO2 cooling rig during the first year. You will be based primarily at the University of Bath with extended secondments to CERN.

The second year will focus on fluid modelling and experimental validation and involve collaboration with CERN and the University of Bergamo, whilst working closely with a PhD student who will integrate these insights into generative design workflows.

This role offers access to world‑class facilities, including CERNs LUCASZ cooling infrastructure, and the opportunity to contribute to CMS operations during secondments.

The successful candidate will collaborate with leading experts across Bath, CERN and the University of Bergamo, supported by technical staff and embedded within the DDR8 community.

Further information

We are offering this role on a full‑time (36.5 hours per week) fixed‑term basis for two years.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Dr Alexander Lunt or Carl Sangan.

As a member of Research Staff at the University of Bath, you will be encouraged to take up to a minimum of 10 days of professional development pro‑rata per year.

A lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6) with a comparable reduction in responsibilities and amendment in job title to Research Assistant, if a suitable applicant cannot be found to fill the Grade 7 position. Applicants will need to be within six months of their course completion date and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD has been awarded.

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equity and intersectionality, receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under‑represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We're very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, an accredited Disability Confident Leader, and an autism‑friendly university, committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.

What We Can Offer You

• Free counselling services through Health Assured
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym
• Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees
• Staff discount on language courses
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes
• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning and more
• Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
• Local discounts and more
• A family‑friendly workplace
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• Relocation allowance
• Visa reimbursement and Interest‑Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses

Find out more about our benefits on our website and watch the video to hear from our staff about what makes the University of Bath a great place to work as well as following us on X and LinkedIn.

Right to Work in the UK

We do not assess immigration or right to work status until offer stage. Being invited to interview does not guarantee you are eligible for visa sponsorship and all offers are conditional on meeting right to work requirements. Further information is available on our application support webpage.

Anonymous shortlisting

We are constantly seeking to reduce the unconscious bias that enters any assessment process, with the goal of creating an inclusive and equal assessment process. To support this, personal details such as your name may be removed from application forms at the initial shortlisting stage.