Research Associate in Computational Mechanics

Job id: 085646. Salary: £43,205 - £50,585 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 01 March 2024. Closing date: 31 March 2024.

Business unit: Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sci. Department: Engineering.

Contact details:Dr Antonio E. Forte. [email protected]

Location: Strand Campus. Category: Research.

The RADlab at King’s College London is seeking to recruit a Postdoctoral Researcher for the Neural-driven, Active, and Reconfigurable Mechanical Metamaterials (NARMM) project. The project aims at developing the first generation of reconfigurable and shape-shifting robotic matter for wearable robotics, with large potential for high impact publications and science advances. The Project is in collaboration with Harvard University, MIT, University of Luxemburg, Bristol University, City University of New York and five industrial partners, with the possibility to carry out exchange visits and secondments. The RADlab is a state-of-the-art facility in the centre of London (Strand Campus), based within the King’s Engineering Department.

The successful candidate will join a highly collaborative and vibrant team of 9 PhD students and 2 Post-Docs working on related topics.

Expected start date is June 2024 the post is initially fully funded for two years, with a possibly of an extension.

The research in this project at King’s will develop high resolution and reduce-order models of mechanical robotic matter to provide a tool that can be used to predict shape morphing capabilities and robotic tasks for wearable devices.

This project will lay the foundation to enable:

You will be part of an active research programme in the RADlab

PI website:  https://antonioeliaforte.com/

Candidates with a background in Mechanical Desing, Computational Mechanics, Finite Element Analysis and Mechanical Metamaterial Science are particularly encouraged to apply.

This post will be offered on an fixed-term contract for two years.

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

• Develop a Finite Element Model of inflatable metamaterial architecture 
• Develop a reduce order model of the same architecture to produce large datasets of simulations for machine learning strategies
• Evaluate model accuracy on experiments in collaboration with other members of the team
• Close collaboration with our industry and academic partners to couple the model with existing data
• You will be expected to additionally support the experimental lab safety management and supervision of lab users

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

You will be a high-calibre, research-excellent individual specialising in finite element modelling and reduce-order modelling with a background in computational mechanics. You will also have a track record, or keen interest, in collaborating with the robotics and manufacturing sectors, leading to both multidisciplinary research and impact. 

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.