Research Associate in Lightweight Wind Turbine Blades

Job number   ACAD104430
Division/School   School of Civil, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Contract type   Fixed Term Contract
Working pattern   Full time
Salary   £33,797 - £38,017
Closing date for applications    02-Mar-2020 

Applications are invited for a fully-funded Wind Turbine Structures focused Post-Doctoral Research Associate post for 8 months starting early 2020. Based in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, the successful  candidate will join the Bristol Composite Institutes (ACCIS) and its research team dedicated to wind turbine structures to help develop a novel composite truss technology for wind turbine blades. The Wrapped Tow Reinforced (WrapToR) composite truss manufacturing process has proven its ability to make incredibly efficient truss structures from composite materials at low cost through a novel, patented winding process. This post will support an ongoing research project funded by Vestas Wind Systems that is looking into the use of this technology within wind turbine blades as an enabling technology for larger wind turbines and lower renewable energy prices. This project involves a range of activities including Finite Element Analysis, design and manufacturing studies, experimental testing, and full wind turbine simulations (with modified blade properties, using in house codes) to determine system level impact of the blade modifications. This post will involve a combination of these activities, but the applicant is not expected to cover all of them, as they will be working closely with an existing PDRA. The particular focus of this post is an open topic of discussion, with the intention being to leverage the existing skills and expertise of the applicant while also ensuring completion of project deliverables. This post fits within the broader scope of work being undertaken by the wind energy research team at Bristol and will be well supported in terms of facilities and local expertise. 

We welcome applications from all members of our community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as members of the LGBT+ and BAME communities, to join us.