Research Associate/Fellow in Friction Welding Analysis and Characterisation (Fixed term, Part time)

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Engineering
Location:  Jubilee Campus
Salary:  £30,487 to £45,585 per annum, pro rata depending on skills and experience (minimum £33966 with relevant PhD). Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance.
Closing Date:  Friday 23 February 2024
Reference:  ENG033824

Applications are invited for the above post within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham. The faculty has an excellent international reputation for high quality theoretical and experimental research. The faculty is also dedicated to equality, diversity, and inclusion; it was awarded engineering department in the UK to be awarded an Athena Swan Gold award for advancing gender equality in higher education. Applications from all backgrounds are encouraged.

The person appointed will work part time (approximately 50% FTE) within the framework of a TSB/Rolls-Royce funded project called MUSIC. The research work will centre on three main technical areas: 

1)    Dynamic characterisation of real (production) inertia and linear friction welding machines at Rolls-Royce and the development of predictive models that allow local (near weld) boundary conditions to be approximated from machine data reports.

2)    Design and development experimental methods that allow for flow stress and damage characterisation in Nickel and Titanium alloys under friction welding representative loading conditions.

3)    The characterisation of post weld material and structure conditions (residual stresses and microstructure, for example) using a variety of experimental techniques.

The successful applicant will work with an established team of solid mechanics researchers at the University of Nottingham. This position offers the opportunity for close collaboration with national and international researchers as well with industrial partners.

Candidates must have extensive and demonstrable experience in mechanical characterisation of both materials (ideally Nickel and Titanium alloys) and systems. Experience with friction welding processes and an appreciation of the complications/nuances associated with them is highly desirable. 

Candidates should have a good understanding of deformation mechanisms in metallic materials across a range of loading conditions appropriate to the friction welding processes. They should have the ability to use programming software (e.g. Matlab and Python) for the modelling and analysis of engineering systems and components. Demonstrable machine learning experience is essential. Candidates should also be able to demonstrate experience in engineering design. Candidates must have or be near completion of a PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, ideally in a field closely related to mechanical characterisation of engineering systems and/or material characterisation. 

Candidates will need to be able to undertake high-quality research and carry out communication and knowledge disseminations activities (which include writing reports writing journal publications, presenting at conferences, and attending networking events) with minimal supervision.

This post is available on a fixed term basis until 30/06/2026. Hours of work are part time (20 hours). 

Requests for secondment from internal candidates may be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role.

A Basic BPSS check is required for this role. 

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof. Christopher Bennett, email [email protected]
Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

Further details:

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