Research Associate

Job Purpose

To make a leading contribution to modelling flow dynamics of granular materials, working with Professor Jin Sun and relevant research collaborators in a wide range of disciplines. Granular materials are encountered ubiquitously in industry, found in products ranging from cement to paints, foods and slurries for battery and solar panel manufacturing; and in nature, such as mud flows, submarine landslides. Understanding the rheology and predicting the flow dynamics of such materials represent grand challenges in fundamental sciences and cutting-edge engineering, contributing to far-from-equilibrium physics and multiscale mechanics. The reliable and efficient processing and manufacture of these diverse products also presents ‘grand challenges’ to technological innovation because their flow and product behaviour can become unstable and unpredictable subject to minor changes in particle properties or processing conditions.

The vision for this project is to make step changes in our predictability of dense granular flows in complex geometries and/or loading conditions, and ultimately leading to rational design of granular materials with novel or desired properties through an interdisciplinary approach leveraging recent advances made in multiscale mechanics and machine learning.

The candidates should have a PhD, or have equivalent experience, in Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Material Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or other relevant fields. The candidates must have excellent understanding in rheology, fluid mechanics, and soft matter physics, proven experience in computational or experimental study of complex fluids or granular matter. Furthermore, excellent communication and organizational skills are required. Experience in simulation using molecular dynamics, discrete element method and/or coupled fluid dynamics at multiple scales; or in experimentation using rheometers, confocal microscopy and/or atomic force microscopy is advantageous.

The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals as well as help manage and direct tasks associated with establishing a research programme in Granular Materials Rheology and Design.

For informal enquiries or further information about the project, please contact Professor Jin Sun, email: [email protected]

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.         Take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and project/group/School/College research strategy.

2.         Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

3.         Establish and maintain your research profile and reputation and that of The University of Glasgow/ School/ Research Group, including establishing and sustaining a track record of independent and joint publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed journals, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

4.         Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project & subject area, & develop/implement a suitable research strategy.

5.         Presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.

6.         Take a leading role in the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.

7.         Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the research group/School/College/University and wider community (e.g. Academic and Industrial Partners).

8.         Take a leading role in team/group meetings/seminars/workshops and School research group activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the School/College.

9.         Take the lead in the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

10.     Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and School, including Budgets/Expenditure.

11.     Make a leading contribution to Teaching activities (e.g. demonstrating etc) and associated admin as assigned by the Head of School and in consultation with Principal Investigator.

12.     Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

13.     Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.

14.     Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Head of School/Director of Research Institute.

15.     Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, World Changers Together.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Normally Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) or alternatively possess the equivalent in professional qualifications and experience, with experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s)

A2 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions within the wider subject area or subject specialism

Skills

Essential:

C1 Proven ability in and knowledge of rheology, fluid/solid mechanics and dynamics

C2 Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner

C3 Excellent communication skills (oral and written), including public presentations and ability to communicate complex data/concepts clearly and concisely. 

C4 Excellent interpersonal skills including team working and a collegiate approach.
C5 Appropriate workload/time/project/budget/people management skills. 

C6 Extensive IT and data analysis/interpretation skills as appropriate.
C7 Self-motivation, initiative and independent thought/working. C8 Problem solving skills including a flexible and pragmatic approach.

Desirable:

D1 Knowledge of soft matter physics and scientific computing

Experience

Essential:

E1 Sufficient depth of relevant research experience, normally including sufficient postdoctoral experience in a related field, appropriate to an early career researcher

E2 A track record of presentation and publication of research results in quality journals/conferences

E3 Experience of making a leading contribution in academic activities

E4 Ability to demonstrate a degree of independence as illustrated by identification of project objectives from assessment of the literature, design and analysis of experiments and drafting of papers.

E5 Experience in undertaking independent research

E6 Experience in computational or experimental study of complex fluids or granular matter

Desirable:

F1 Experience in simulation using molecular dynamics, discrete element method and/or coupled fluid dynamics at multiple scales; or in experimentation using rheometers, confocal microscopy and/or atomic force microscopy

Closing date:  1 March 2024

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £39,347 - £44,263 per annum.

This post is full time, and has funding for up to 3 years.

Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.