Department of Chemical and Process Engineering

Location:      Guildford
Salary:      £31,812 per annum
Marie Curie provisions include generous travel and career exploratory allowances.
Post Type:      Full Time
Closing Date:      Wednesday 12 June 2019
Interview Date:      To be confirmed

MATHEGRAM is an Innovative Training Network (ITN) funded by EU through H2020 MARIE SKLODOWSKA-CURIE ACTIONS, and aims to improve our understanding of the thermomechanical behaviour of granular materials. MATHEGRAM will deliver a timely, concerted research and training programme to 15 early stage researchers, and brings together a multi-disciplinary and inter-sectorial consortium consisting of 10 beneficiaries (i.e. full partners), and 5 partner organisations. The MATHEGRAM vision is to develop robust numerical models and novel experimental techniques that can predict the performance and measure the properties of granular materials at different temperatures, so that they can be effectively used in various industries.

At the University of Surrey, we are recruiting one ESR to work on heat generation and transfer in granular materials. The primary objectives of this projects arei) to explore changes in mechanical properties and temperature induced by heat generation and transfer, ii) to examine the variation of temperature and stresses in granular materials, such as pharmaceutical formulations and biological materials.

Each of these projects involves a 3-year PhD doctoral research program, leading to a PhD degree awarded by the University of Surrey, as well as secondment (i.e. internship) to other MATHEGRAM partners up to 9 months.

Key duties will include:

• Investigate heat generation and transfer in granular materials;
• Explore the effect of temperature on mechanical and physical properties of  granular materials;
• Perform novel research under the supervision of academic and industrial supervisors;
• Write technical reports periodically for internal and external dissemination;
• Participate in the activities of the MATHEGRAM programme: attending network training events, collaborating with MATHEGRAM partners and researchers;
• Undertake secondments to MATHEGRAM partners for research and training purposes;
• To take initiatives in the research planning and work as an independent researcher.

Person Specification:

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Physics or Materials Science or a closely related discipline;
• Knowledge of mechanics and granular materials;
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team;
• Experience in data analysis, interpretation and management, as well as writing technical reports/papers;
• Entry requirements include English language requirements being IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each band or equivalent.

Eligibility: Applicants must satisfy the eligibility requirements for an early stage researcher under the Horizon 2020 ITN Programme; in particular, they should be eligible to be appointed as an ESR in the UK by satisfying the following criteria:

• Must be ‘early-stage researchers’, i.e. at the date of recruitment (the date on which their employment on the project starts) be in the first four years (fulltime equivalent research experience) of their research careers. 'Full-time equivalent research experience' is measured from the date when the researcher obtained the degree entitling him/her to embark on a doctorate (either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited or from where he/she is seconded) – even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged.
• Have not been awarded a doctoral degree (PhD candidates under 4 years of registration and before completion may apply)
• Have resided or carried out their main activity in the UK for less than 12 months (cumulative) in the three years prior to their appointments.

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof Charley Wu (C.Y.Wu@surrey.ac.uk).

If interest, please apply online by either click ‘apply’ below or go to https://jobs.surrey.ac.uk/ and search using reference number 004319-R

Please do NOT apply if you have previously sent your applications to MATHEGRAM@surrey.ac.ukbut have not been invited to submit a formal application.

For more information and to apply online, please download the further details and click on the 'apply online' button above.

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