Postdoctoral Research Associate in Soil Mechanics

Updated: about 1 year ago
Location: Durham, ENGLAND
Deadline: The position may have been removed or expired!

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Soil Mechanics (
Job Number:
 22002023)
Department of Engineering
Grade 7: - £35,333 to £37,474 Per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 14 months
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date
: 11-Jan-2023, 6:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable. 

Durham University

 

Durham University is one of the world's top universities with strengths across the Arts and Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.

 

The University sits in a beautiful historic city where it shares ownership of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, the greatest Romanesque building in Western Europe. A collegiate University, Durham recruits outstanding students from across the world and offers an unmatched wider student experience.

 

Less than 3 hours north of London, and an hour and a half south of Edinburgh, County Durham is a region steeped in history and natural beauty. The Durham Dales, including the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are home to breathtaking scenery and attractions. Durham offers an excellent choice of city, suburban and rural residential locations. The University provides a range of benefits including pension and childcare benefits and the University’s Relocation Manager can assist with potential schooling requirements.

 

Durham University seeks to promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment for work and study that assists all members of our University community to reach their full potential. Diversity brings strength and we welcome applications from across the international, national and regional communities that we work with and serve.

 

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 4th in the Complete University Guide, 5th in the Guardian University Guide and 6th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 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.

 

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

The post holder will be responsible to Dr Paul Hughes  and will be expected to support other academics working on the EPSRC funded Martian Rammed Earth project. The post holder will proactively engage with academic, postdoctoral research and technical support colleagues, as well as students, within and external to the Department, including industry, to ensure that activities are undertaken to an appropriate standard.

 

The post holder will join the Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Research (GEER) Node within the Department of Engineering. The GEER node specialises in research into the properties of unsaturated soils. The post holder will also be expected to spend several months on secondment working with and based at the Geotechnical Engineering Research Group of the Future Infrastructure & Environment Research Cluster at the University of Dundee, particularly with the geotechnical centrifuge facility.

The Role

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in unsaturated soil mechanics with a particular emphasis on the properties of earthen construction materials in off-world environments. The post holder will work on the EPSRC funded research project Martian Rammed Earth. This project aims to determine the impact of Martian atmosphere and gravity conditions on earthen construction materials produced with Martian Regolith and hence produce a scientifically validated method for the production of durable construction materials on Mars from 100% in-situ materials.

The successful applicant will be expected to conduct geotechnical laboratory tests on unsaturated regolith materials, geotechnical centrifuge testing, develop novel experimental systems and collaborate with researchers in the development of numerical models. They will also be expected to prepare research articles on their work and present the work to project partners and to researchers at international conferences

 

Responsibilities: 

To plan, carry out and report laboratory research on the geo-mechanical properties of earthen construction materials made from Martian regolith utilising unsaturated soil mechanics testing and geotechnical centrifuge testing.

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 prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.

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 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 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 or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.

To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.

To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.

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.

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 engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.

To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.   

This post is fixed term for 14 months due to the funding available. The project is time limited and will end on 31/08/24

 

The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

 

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by March 2023. 

 

 

 

How to Apply

 

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Paul Hughes ([email protected]).All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence. 

 

We prefer to receive applications online via the Durham University Vacancies Site. https://www.dur.ac.uk/jobs/ . As part of the application process, you should provide details of 3 (preferably academic/research) referees and the details of your current line manager so that we may seek an employment reference.

 

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in the University.

 

What to Submit

 

All applicants are asked to submit: 

A CV and covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above;

A table detailing how you meet each of the essential requirements (qualifications, experience, skills) evidenced in your CV.

Next Steps

 

The assessment for the post will includ a 40 minute interview. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview and assessment  during week commencing 23rd January.

 


 


The Requirements

 

Essential:

Qualifications

A good first degree in Civil Engineering, Engineering Geology or a related subject.

A PhD (or be close to submission) in Geotechnical Engineering, Soil Mechanics or a related subject.

Experience

Experience in conducting high quality academic research in the area of geotechnical engineering, unsaturated soil mechanics or a related field.

Experience in earthen construction materials or unsaturated soil mechanics laboratory testing

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

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

Skills

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

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

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable:

Experience

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

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

Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics.

Experience of overseeing students with respect to the development of their practical/research skills e.g. acting as a demonstrator; supervising student projects/practicals.

Experience in geotechnical centrifuge testing or the development of constitutive soil models. 

Skills

Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research. 

 




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