Postdoctoral Research Associate in Offshore Foundation Systems
- Employer
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY
- Location
- Durham, United Kingdom
- Salary
- £33,797 - £40,322 per annum
- Closing date
- 23 Apr 2021
View more
- Academic Discipline
- Engineering & Technology, Mathematics & Statistics, Physical Sciences, General Engineering
- Job Type
- Academic Posts, Postdocs, Research Related, Research Associate
- Contract Type
- Fixed Term
- Hours
- Full Time
Department of Engineering
Grade 7: - £33,797 - £40,322 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: Up to 16.02.2023
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date : 23-Apr-2021, 6:59:00 AM
Durham University
Durham University is one of the world's top universities with strengths across the Arts and Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.
The University sits in a beautiful historic city where it shares ownership of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, the greatest Romanesque building in Western Europe. A collegiate University, Durham recruits outstanding students from across the world and offers an unmatched wider student experience.
Less than 3 hours north of London, and an hour and a half south of Edinburgh, County Durham is a region steeped in history and natural beauty. The Durham Dales, including the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are home to breathtaking scenery and attractions. Durham offers an excellent choice of city, suburban and rural residential locations. The University provides a range of benefits including pension and childcare benefits and the University’s Relocation Manager can assist with potential schooling requirements.
Durham University seeks to promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment for work and study that assists all members of our University community to reach their full potential. Diversity brings strength and we welcome applications from across the international, national and regional communities that we work with and serve.
The Department
The Department of Engineering is consistently one of the very best UK engineering departments with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. We have a long history and tradition of Engineering. Engineering has been taught at Durham University since 1838 making it the first course of its kind in England. The Department provides outstanding course content that equips young engineers with the problem solving skills of the 21st century, and is committed to an ethos of research-led teaching at all levels of its taught programmes, and is ranked 4th in the Guardian and 6th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021 in the UK for General Engineering. Ranked 4th in the UK for Research impact at REF 2014, where 90% of the Engineering outputs were graded 3* or 4*, this dynamic department is an excellent place to work. We have helped to shape the past and continue to shape the future. The strategic vision for the Department includes a growth plan of over 50% over the next five years, with a significant enhancement of the research challenge portfolio, and a drive to enrich our undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research provision. It is an exciting time to join this expanding Department and make your mark.
The Department has an Athena SWAN Bronze Award, recognising our commitment to diversity in STEM academia and reflecting the supportive and positive environment within the Department.
The Role
Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Offshore Foundation Systems. This position is funded by the British Council. The project is entitled “Floating hybrid renewable energy systems in Turkey”. The partner of the project is the Middle East Technical University in Turkey. The primary objective of this project is to design foundation systems for combined-hybrid floating wind and solar energy in Turkey. The research will involve the development of coupled finite element/finite volume methods for water/solid interaction and large deformation simulations for the foundations’ installation and the movement of the anchorage systems.
This position provides the opportunity to collaborate with a broad range of professionals and researchers in academia. The successful applicant will be expected to work closely with other partners to develop new reliable and efficient design methods for foundations of floating systems.
Responsibilities :
- To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
- To prepare and deliver presentations and scientific reports on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
- To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Grant-holder.
- To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
- To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Grant-holder.
- To work with the Grant-holder, Co-investigators and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
- To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
- To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
- To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
- To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
- To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
- To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
- To engage in wider citizenship to support the Department and wider discipline.
- To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.
The funding for the fixed-term post is available for up to 24 months from 17/02/2021 to 16/02/2023.
The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.
Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 01/04/2021 or soon after.
How to Apply
For informal enquiries please contact Professor Ashraf Osman (ashraf.osman@durham.ac.uk). All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.
We prefer to receive applications online via the Durham University Vacancies Site. https://www.dur.ac.uk/jobs/. As part of the application process, you should provide details of 3 (preferably academic/research) referees and the details of your current line manager so that we may seek an employment reference.
Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in the University .
What to Submit
All applicants are asked to submit:
- A CV and covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above, with examples.
Next Steps
The assessment for the post will include evaluating the information that you have supplied against the essential criteria for the role. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview in late March.
The Requirements
Essential:
- Qualifications
- A good first degree in engineering, with a strong mathematical and computational mechanics background.
- A PhD (or be close to submission) in geotechnical engineering, computational mechanics or a related subject.
- Experience
- Experience in conducting high quality academic research.
- Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals.
- Demonstrable ability to present research papers at international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.
- Experience in research related to offshore foundations and/or computational methods.
- Skills
- Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.
- Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Desirable:
- Experience
- Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career.
- A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career.
- Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics.
- Experience of overseeing students with respect to the development of their practical/research skills e.g. acting as a demonstrator; supervising student projects/practicals.
- Prior experience in offshore geotechics, finite element analysis and programming languages such as C++, Python or Fortran.
- Skills
- Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research.
DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.
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