Postdoctoral Research Associate in Radio Propagation Studies

Job Title: Post-Doctoral Research Assistant in Experimental Radio Propagation Studies

Department: Engineering

Grade: Grade 7

Salary range: £37,099 - £39,347 per annum

Potential interview date: End May / early June 2024

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally. 

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.  We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here.

The Role and Department

The Department

The Department of Engineering is consistently one of the very best UK engineering departments with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students.  The Department is ranked 5th in the Complete University Guide 2024, 5th in the Guardian University Guide 2024, and 7th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023 in the UK for General Engineering.  Ranked in the top six in the UK for overall profile in REF 2021 (with 95% of publications rated as 4* and 3*), this dynamic Department is an excellent place to work.  The strategic vision for the Department includes a growth plan of over 50% over the next five years, with a significant enhancement of the research challenge portfolio and a drive to enrich our undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research provision.  It is an exciting time to join this expanding Department and make your mark. 

We have helped to shape the past and continue to shape the future. The strategic vision for the Department includes a growth plan of over 50% over the next five years, with a significant enhancement of the research challenge portfolio, and a drive to enrich our undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research provision.  It is an exciting time to join this expanding Department and make your mark.

The Department has an Athena SWAN Bronze Award, recognising our commitment to diversity in STEM academia and reflecting the supportive and positive environment within the Department.

The Role

The Centre for Communication Systems has world class radio propagation measurements capabilities with state-of-the-art radio channel sounders with multiple RF heads covering several frequency bands from 0.6 GHz to 330 GHz for mobile radio measurements, a large anechoic chamber, and a high end disdrometer weather station with multiple mm wave RF heads to study the impact of precipitation on fixed links in the built environment. Its research is supported by electronics and mechanical workshops.

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Experimental Radio Propagation Studies for both indoor and outdoor mobile environments for potential spectrum sharing and modelling of the impact of precipitation on mm wave fixed radio links from the high-end weather station installed at Durham University and measurement data.

The successful candidate will be working in the Communications and THz node in the department of Engineering led by Professor Salous who is the lead academic at Durham University for the recently awarded DSIT Sandbox on spectrum sharing and the EPSRC project Transmission Channels Measurements and Communication System Design for Future mmWave Communications (mmWave TRACCS), which is a collaborative project with Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and University College London (UCL).  The projects bring the complementary expertise of leading industry and UK research groups, to research, design and experimentally demonstrate systems working in typical deployment scenarios, in an integrative and holistic fashion. For such work, there are key challenges relating to the radio channel and system design.

Challenge 1: to design wireless communication systems, it is paramount to have a verifiable model of the physical propagation channel by collecting measurement data from a specialist and bespoke designed equipment termed "channel sounder", which sends signals over the air and the receiver measures these signals after propagation. Such a model depends on several physical factors, but mainly the transmission signal parameters e.g. the frequency of transmission, the bandwidth of the signal, and the propagation channel physical parameters, such as the channel size and environment and whether it is indoors or outdoors, environmental factors, presence of obstacles, water moisture, pollution and other factors. Professor Salous and her group at Durham has been building channel sounders for over thirty years and the models she has developed are considered amongst the best in the world, used by regulators, industry and the United Nations through the International Telecommunications Union, (ITU). In this project Professor Salous and the successful candidate will conduct measurements and develop unique models for future generation wireless systems using the new channel sounding.

Challenge 2: Different method for spectrum sharing need to be identified for potential deployment in networks and in network planning tools and modelling of the impact of weather conditions on radio links.   

The successful applicant will be expected to:

General Responsibilities: 

• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To prepare technical documents to be presented to partners and relevant standards.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences. 
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate. 
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.

Duration of post

This post is fixed term until 31st April 2026. It is expected that the successful applicant, ideally, will be in post by the 1st of July 2024 at the latest. 

Working at Durham 

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:

• 30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. 
• The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled  into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools.  If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  As a university equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.  If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Contact Information 

Department contact for academic-related enquiries

Professor Sana Salous, Department of Engineering, email: [email protected]   

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email.  Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to [email protected]

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time.  We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays). 

What to Submit

All applicants are asked to submit:

1.     A CV and

2.     A cover letter which details your experience, skills, and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the criteria set out below.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification  
  
When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role.  Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description.  Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.    
  
Your application should cover the following criteria:  

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

Qualifications

1.     A good first degree in Electronics Engineering.

2.     A PhD in Electronics Engineering or about to submit PhD thesis.

Experience

3.     Experience in experimental mobile radio propagation studies.*

4.     Experience in programming in C, gate arrays and Matlab.

5.     Experience in propagation modelling*

6.     Experience in conducting high-quality academic research.

7.     Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in    highly ranked journals.

8.     Demonstrable ability to present research papers at national/international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.

Skills

9.     Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.

10.  Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.

11.  Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable Criteria:

Experience

12.  Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career.

13.  A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career.

Skills

14.  Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research.

How to Apply 

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. 

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview. 

Submitting your application

We prefer to receive applications online.   We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

Next Steps

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department.  The assessment for the post will normally include an interview and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place around late May/early June 2024.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.  

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.