Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Energy Technology and Complex Systems research group in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics at the University of Liverpool is actively engaged in the global effort to tackle greenhouse gas emission in electrical grids to contribute toward the government¿s Net Zero target. High voltage switchgear is an essential protective element in electricity grids and uses SF6 as the insulation gas, a prominent greenhouse gas. Vacuum based switching technology is attracting an increasing amount of interest for its potential as an alternative to the SF6 based switching technology.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate with expertise in switching arcs and excellent skills for the set-up and functional test of a vacuum arc experimental system. You are also expected to have experience in project management and organisation of project review meetings involving external partners.

The post is part of an ongoing industry funded project in collaboration with the University of Manchester to understand how different material combinations (Cu + Cr + graphene, etc.) can be used to improve the fault current interruption performance and lifetime of vacuum-based switching devices. High power arcing experiment will be performed on the electrical contact material to enable the quantification of material and surface profile modifications by the intense but short-lived electric arc.

You will have a PhD in Electrical Engineering.

This post is available on a fixed term basis from 1January 2024 until 11 June 2024.

Any applicants who are still awaiting their PhD to be awarded should be aware that if successful, they will be appointed at grade 6, spine point 30.  Upon written confirmation that they have been successful in being awarded their PhD, they will be moved onto grade 7, spine point 31 from the date of their award.

The University has the right to close the vacancy early if it is deemed that there have been enough applications received