Research Fellow in Process Optimisation and Control

Chemical & Process Engineering

Location: Guildford
Salary: £37,386
Post Type:  Full Time
Closing Date:  23.59 hours BST on Wednesday 07 June 2023
Reference:  027123

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Fellow wishing to advance their career in a research-driven, interdisciplinary environment, beginning 5 June 2023 or soon after. This is a fixed term contract for up to 23 months.

The PDRA will work as part of a research team including several industrial partners, funded by the UKRI’s ‘Artificial intelligence research to enable UK's net zero target’. The PDRA will undertake a range of research activities associated with the work package 1 of the ‘Artificial Intelligence Enabling Future Optimal Flexible Biogas Production for Net-Zero’ project. The PDRA will assume responsibility for specific areas of the project that will involve developing and using advanced methods for real-time optimisation and control, techno-economic and sustainability assessment, utilising both traditional optimisation methods along with machine learning approaches. It is expected that the PDRA can use initiative and creativity to identify appropriate research methods, with Python fluency an advantage. It is anticipated that a working demonstrator at a partner anaerobic digestion site is developed, providing the post holder with experience in real-world impact and application of their work.

The PDRA will form an important part of the multi-disciplinary team and therefore will be expected to assist in project management and perform analysis and interpretation of results of their own research and assisting with that of other team members. The PDRA may need to collect and interpret data from a wide array of sources from different work packages within the project, and collaborate between multiple universities. There is a budget allocated for travel between partners and industrial sites, as well as for international conferences. The PDRA will also write up results and prepare papers for submission to the project team, appropriate journals and conferences, and other outputs as required. Additionally, they will plan and manage their own research activity in collaboration with other members of the team, and the industrial partners. To carry out administrative tasks associated with the funding, for example organisation of project meetings and documentation and implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely formal reporting and financial control. The post holder may occasionally be required to supervise more junior research staff.

Further details: Job Description

Please note, it is University Policy to offer a starting salary equivalent to Level 3.6 (£34,314) to successful applicants who have been awarded, but are yet to receive, their PhD certificate. Once the original PhD certificate has been submitted to the local HR Department, the salary will be increased to Level 4.1 (£35,308).