About us

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is seeking to fill a research focused position in Advanced Thermal Engineering for Electric Propulsion Systems at either the Lecturer level (equivalent of a U.S. tenure-track Assistant Professor position) or the Associate Professor level. Appointment at Lecturer (Grade 8) or Associate Professor (Grade 9) will be determined by depth of experience and track record. For Associate Professor, the appointee would be expected to demonstrate sustained excellence in all aspects of academic life.

In its single biggest development since it was founded, UCL is expanding to East London. Located on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, UCL East will be dedicated to disruptive thinking and discovery across disciplines and beyond academic walls, to find solutions to the biggest challenges for future living. With its first buildings opening in 2023, UCL East will be a place for creating solutions that change the world.

This academic post is part of the recruitment to the Advanced Propulsion Lab (APL) and its associated MSc programmes. The post will be located in the Marshgate Building of the UCL East campus which has brand new world-class collaborative research laboratories and teaching facilities. The APL brings together researchers and students from the UCL departments of Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, with the Department of Mechanical Engineering as the lead partner for this recruitment. The post will initially be based at UCL's Bloomsbury campus in Central London and will move to UCL East later in 2023.

Research in the APL will focus on the critical challenge of decarbonizing the transport sector, including land, sea and air applications, as well as the generation of electrofuels to service these sectors. Taking a cross-disciplinary approach it will address the critical gap of the development of propulsion technologies from different scales (materials, electrodes, systems, etc.) and the associated system integration. Leading to innovative solutions that provide step change improvements in propulsion technologies.

About the role

We are seeking a highly qualified academic professional in thermal engineering for electric propulsion systems. You will be expected to work collaboratively with colleagues within the department and other departments that form part of the APL, as well as within UCL East more widely.

1) To provide leadership (grade 9) support (grade 8) for the delivery and development of research promoting the thermal engineering in areas including, but not exclusive to (not in order of priority):

• Design of thermal management systems for advanced electric propulsion in transport
• Heat transfer within components and devices as used in advanced electric propulsion systems
• Cooling systems applied to electrical technologies such as electrical machines and power electronics, energy storage systems, and overall propulsion system including electrical, electro-mechanical and hybrid propulsion.

2) Support postdoctoral research staff and PhD students.

3) Contribute to teaching including the MSc Power Systems Engineering and MSc Advanced Propulsion.

About you

We are keen to accept applications from candidates with expertise in designing thermal management systems for advanced transportation propulsion, including a deep understanding of heat transfer within components and devices commonly used in these systems.

The successful candidate will also have experience in developing cooling systems applied to electrical technologies, such as energy storage systems, power electronics, electrical machines and overall propulsion systems, including electrical, electro-mechanical, and hybrid propulsion. Additionally, it is essential that the successful candidate meets the following criteria:

• PhD/EngD in electrical engineering, mechanical or other relevant discipline.
• An appropriate background and research expertise to make significant contributions at the forefront of international research in mechanical engineering with emphasis on the areas of relevance to the post
• Undergraduate and/or postgraduate teaching experience and pedagogical knowledge in mechanical engineering or a relevant discipline.
• Experience supporting the development of students / early career researchers / direct reports, through mentoring, sponsorship or personal tutoring.
• Proven skills of designing and delivering excellent, and inclusive undergraduate and postgraduate education at an international level.
• Ability to secure research funding.
• Ability to produce quality publications relevant to the discipline. Although not essential, your application will be greatly enhanced if you have experience of:
• Partnership with organisations in education, public sector, or industry, for example research co-production or public engagement.
• Leading positive culture change, or culture creation, within a discipline or organisation.
• Creating and running short courses

Further Details

- Salary Range- Grade 8 (Lecturer): 48,614 - 57,041 (including 4,200 London allowance) per annum.

- Salary Range- Grade 9 (Associate Professor): 61,923- 67,259 (including 4,200 London allowance) per annum. - This role meets the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa.

- If you have any queries about the role, please contact Professor Alistair Greig . Any queries on the application process can be directed to Taneta Darko, (Senior Recruiter) at .

What we offer As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit our Rewards and Benefits page to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.