Research Fellow in Lightweight Structures

Organisation

Cranfield University

School/Department

School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing

Based at

Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire

Hours of work

37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered

Contract type

Fixed term contract

Fixed Term Period

Fixed Term Contract until 31 December 2025

Salary

Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £37,337 to £40,347 per annum

About the Role

This role will shape our Centre’s research, focusing on optimising hybrid materials for next-gen aircraft landing gears. Addressing gaps in technology, it involves critical evaluation, designing joining techniques, topological optimisation for mass reduction, and assessing manufacturing impacts. The research concludes with evaluating optimised landing gear through project reviews, workshops, conferences, and academic publications, influencing the future of landing gear technology.

About You

We are seeking an ambitious and collaborative professional with a PhD (or close to completion) in a relevant field related to materials and structures. This individual will be responsible for developing and delivering research in areas such as material characterisation and failure analysis, advanced FEA simulation for topological optimisation, design, analysis, and testing of lightweight materials and structures, as well as multiscale modelling of hybrid materials and structures.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here .

The School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing (SATM) is a leading provider of postgraduate level engineering education, research and technology support to individuals and organisations. At the forefront of aerospace, manufacturing and transport systems technology and management for over 70 years, we deliver multi-disciplinary solutions to the complex challenges facing industry.

The Aerospace theme offers world-class and niche post-graduate level research, education, training and consultancy. The Centre for Aeronautics here is internationally renowned for research and education in Aerospace Vehicle Design and Analysis, Aerospace Flight Dynamics and Control, Aerodynamics, Advanced Engineering Methods, Systems Engineering, and Advanced Lightweight and Composite Structures. You will be located in the Advanced Lightweight Structures Group within the Centre for Aeronautics.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here .

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families . Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here .

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients, and partners.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Dr Yigeng Xu, on +44 (0)1234 754406 or (E) [email protected] .