Research Fellow in Additive Manufacture (Process and Systems)

School/Department School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing
Based at Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Hours of work 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered.
Contract type Fixed term contract
Fixed Term Period 36 Months
Salary Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £33,809 to £37,684 per annum, with potential progression up to £47,105 per annum
Apply by 10/07/2022

Role Description

About the Role

The NEWAM (New Wire Additive Manufacturing) is a multidisciplinary and collaborative research programme with three other UK Universities (learn more about the research programme here). The programme covers seven research areas: process development and modelling, material development and modelling, material performance, non-destructive testing and process monitoring. The goal of NEWAM is to develop AM processes based on multiple energy sources (MES) that can achieve high deposition rate, net shape and produce defect free parts with a microstructure that meets the load/fatigue performance required for the final application.

SAM (Sustainable additive manufacturing) is a new EPSRC project with a vision of developing novel metal AM processes that utilises recycled swarf as feedstock, enabling a greatly reduced overall energy and CO₂ footprint for high-value near-net-shaped components, and facilitating much wider exploitation of near-net-shape AM technologies throughout industry. This project covers different research areas, including process development, process modelling, environmental & economic assessment, and material characterisation (collaborating with the University of Manchester).

Your main role will be innovating on MES process and required system development, and extending the understanding of MES to the process development and system development to SAM.

About You

You will have a PhD (or close to completion) in additive manufacturing, welding system development, advanced welding processes and other advanced material processing process and system development, and you will have demonstrable relevant experience and achievements within process development, process data analysis and system development. You will also have a good knowledge of processing or process science; hardware and system development. In addition, you will have a developing track record of publishing in high quality journals, excellent communication skills, planning and organisation skills, together with excellent problem solving skills.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

Cranfield Manufacturing (which includes major activities in Materials) is following the ambitious strategy of developing a roadmap for a Sustainable Manufacturing Sector for 2050 by applying fundamental science and thought leadership via conceiving and maturing the concepts of Smart, Clean and Green manufacturing solutions agnostically across all sectors and through all tiers of the supply chain with SMEs as well as OEMs. This is to support the national aspiration of Net Zero UK by 2050. We offer world-class and niche post-graduate level research, education, training and consultancy. We are unique in our multi-disciplinary approach by bringing together design, materials’ technology and management expertise. We link fundamental materials research with manufacturing to develop novel technologies and improve the science base of the manufacturing research. Our capabilities are unique, with a focus on simulation and modelling, and sustainability.  They also include work in composite manufacture, metallic glasses, nano-materials (graphene, coatings and sensors), low energy casting, thermal barrier coatings and Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM).

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme.We are also committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role.  Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.