Researcher in Computational Mechanics

Our College of Science and Engineering is made up of the School of Science, School of Computing, School of Sport and Exercise Science, and School of Engineering. We are the University’s STEM College, in a city with a strong STEM heritage that hosts some of the world's leading STEM companies, and in a region with STEM at the centre of its economic growth plan.

You will be based in the Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering (IISE) which sits under the School of Engineering. The Institute focuses on sustainable engineering solutions across various business sectors. We aim to stimulate regional innovation in design, manufacturing, product lifecycle management and the application of new and smart materials. We also support skills development and industrial growth in the region. 

Over the past five years, we have built a successful track record of delivering projects to businesses — both regionally and nationally. We have also established a number of strategic partnerships with institutions across Europe, the USA and Asia. Industrial collaboration is at the heart of the Institute. We collaborate with organisations of many different sizes - from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large multi-national corporations, original equipment manufacturers, charities and public bodies.

We are a place where you can access knowledge, funding, expertise and technology to help you research, develop products and processes, and drive innovation in your business - always with sustainability in mind.

We have an exciting opportunity to join us as a researcher to work on the recently European Innovation Council (EIC) funded project PANTAREI. PANTAREI will involve the computational design and assessment of bioinspired metastructures for smart habitats. Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) strategies will be deployed to simulate the properties of the materials and structures at different length scales. Physics of Failure models will be also applied within the ICME framework for the reliable design of metastructures with the intention of preventing failure. The Physics of Failure concept will allow the understanding of the relationships between requirements, the physical characteristics of the metastructures and their response to loading and environmental conditions. The Physics of Failure approach will predominantly adopt thermodynamics-based (Entropy) ageing and degradation principles. 

We are seeking a researcher with a PhD (pending or awarded) or equivalent experience in Computational Mechanics, Applied Mathematics, or Applied Physics. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in modern software engineering for Multi-Scale and Multi-Physics simulations and expertise in Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) tools.

In addition, you should have knowledge of computational methodologies such as multiscale bridging strategies, failure analyses, Ab-Initio, Molecular Dynamics, the Finite Element Method, and/or extended programming skills for User-Defined Subroutines.

If you are passionate about computational research and ready to contribute your expertise, we encourage you to apply!

1. Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, contribute to the development of new knowledge and techniques to the research project(s).
2. Contribute to the determination of appropriate research methodologies for the project(s).
3. Analyse research findings and determine the need for further investigation.
4. Contribute to the writing up of research findings and dissemination through publications or seminar and conference presentations.
5. Assist with the preparation of proposals and applications to both external and/or internal bodies for funding, contractual or accreditation purposes.
6. Support the supervision of undergraduate projects and postgraduate research students in conjunction with other staff, and provide training and limited teaching as appropriate.
7. Assist in the development of student research skills, for example as part of a postgraduate supervision team.
8. Plan and manage own research activity and initiate research relevant to the discipline or research project(s).
9. Where opportunities exist within the research project(s), support the development and delivery of business engagement activities, developing entrepreneurial links with external organisations.
10. Contribute to the writing of collective bids for funding, and, where funders permit, write individual bids for funding with appropriate support.
11. Undertake appropriate training and staff development.
12. Provide guidance as required to other colleagues working on related research project(s).
13. Assist and help informally students working in the same research discipline.
14. Develop internal and external contacts with other academic staff to form collaborative relationships and assist with their research project(s).
15. Understand own development needs and formulate a personal development plan.
16. Observe and implement University policies and procedures.