Senior Research Associate in Short-Fibre Composite Shells

University of Bristol Law School; Bristol; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious academic institution in Bristol is seeking a researcher to support a cutting-edge project on recycled composite materials. The role offers collaboration opportunities and a focus on both research and teaching. Candidates should have a strong background in structural mechanics, computational modelling, and scripting languages like Matlab or Python. Salary ranges from £43,482 to £50,253 per annum, with a work pattern that is full-time and open-ended until Nov 30, 2029.

Qualifications

• Experienced in composite materials and structural mechanics.
• Comfortable in manufacturing and experimental testing.
• Familiarity with tow-steered composites and short-fibre composites is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of an ambitious research programme.
• Contribute to teaching and co-supervising PhD students.
• Communicate research outcomes in journals and conferences.

Skills

Passion for sustainability

Background in structural mechanics

Experience with computational modelling

Proficiency in scripting languages

Excitement for structural mechanics and automated manufacturing

Tools

Matlab

Python

Julia

Job description

The role

The purpose of the role is to support the PI (Dr Rainer Groh) in the delivery of an ambitious research programme funded through a UK Research & Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship. By combining state-of-the-art computational design and automated manufacturing, the goal is to create free-form shell structures comprising recycled, short-fibre composites that rival the load-carrying capacity of virgin, continuous fibre composites. A unique feature of the role is close collaboration with two spin-out companies from the University of Bristol.

The role holder will be an experienced researcher and specialist in the areas of composite materials, structural mechanics, optimisation and finite element analysis. Apart from computational expertise, the role holder will also be comfortable in manufacturing and conducting experimental tests on prototypes. Previous experience with tow-steered composites and/or short-fibre composites is desirable but not essential. A unique feature of the project is a detailed consideration of the interaction between structural form and manufacturing quality in designing the most high-performing composite structure.

The role holder is expected to contribute their own ideas and/or enhancement of methodologies to guarantee the successful delivery of the larger research project. The outcomes of the research are to be communicated by the role holder in premier journals and conferences in the field of composite materials, structural mechanics and engineering science.

In addition to the research, the role holder may, where practical, contribute to teaching, through co-supervision of PhD students and teaching support of the PI"s final-year unit Mechanics of Lightweight and Composite Structures. In addition to academic and pastoral support within the School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering, training in effective communication, leadership and entrepreneurship will be available through a bespoke training programme of the PI"s Future Leadership Fellowship, in order to prepare the role holder to take on more responsibilities in the future.

You should apply if

• You are passionate about sustainability and specifically recycled composite materials
• You have a strong background in structural mechanics, ideally in relation to composite materials
• You have experience with and enjoy advanced computational modelling and optimisation of lightweight structures
• You are proficient with scripting languages (e.g. Matlab, Python, Julia) and have advanced skills in finite element modelling
• You are excited by working at the interface of structural mechanics and automated manufacturing
• You have a desire to explore real-world impact of your research

Additional information

For informal queries please contact: Rainer Groh ([e-mail])

To find out more about what it\'s like to work in the Faculty of Engineering, and how the Faculty supports people to achieve their potential, please see our staff blog:

https://engineering.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/category/engineering-includes-me/

Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding until 30/11/2029

Work pattern: Full time

Grade: J

Salary: £43,482 - £50,253 per annum

School/Unit: Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Thursday 30th October.

Interview date will be confirmed in due course.

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential.

We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives - particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.