Research Fellow in Plasma Simulation

Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

Location: Boldrewood Campus
Salary: £34,314 to £35,308 per annum
Full Time Fixed Term for 1 year
Closing Date: Thursday 01 June 2023
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Reference: 2032222DA-2R

This post is offered on a full-time, fixed-term for 1-year due to the funding expectations, but it can be extended based on the funding availability and your performance.

You will join our collaborative, multi-disciplinary team working on developing a computational model for plasma and weakly ionised gas flow simulations, including hypersonic flows. You will be working under the supervision of Dr Minkwan Kim at the University of Southampton with several PhD students and Research fellows. The successful candidate will be responsible for the modelling of plasma and weakly ionised gas flows. This includes MHD effects for manipulating plasma flows for aerospace applications.

In this role, you will:

• Improve in-house CFD/MHD code for plasma simulations
• Develop a high-fidelity MHD model including conductivity model
• Validate the plasma and MHD models against the experimental data
• Collaborate in the assessment and qualification of a novel MHD system
• Highly motivated to deliver against challenging objectives in a compressed timescale.

Requirements and attributes we value:

Essential

• PhD/Degree in a relevant physics or engineering discipline, or equivalent experience*.
• Experience running, developing, and validating in-house CFD codes.
• Experience of working in a team of scientists and/or engineers.
• Highly motivated to deliver against challenging objectives in a compressed timescale.
• Willingness to learn new techniques and technologies.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Organised approach to complex problems.

Desirable

• MHD or thermos-chemical nonequilibrium flow simulation experience will be a plus.
• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling experience would be an advantage, in particular if including magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) effects.
• Familiarity checking CFD analysis, including MHD effects.
• Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision
• Ability to devise and operate effective project schedules

Equality, diversity and Inclusion is central to the ethos in the School of Engineering. We particularly encourage women, Black, Asian and minority ethnic, LGBT and disabled applicants to apply for this position. In recognition of our continued commitment to improving equality for women in science we were awarded an Athena SWAN bronze in 2013 and 2016.   We give full consideration to applicants that wish to work flexibly including part-time and due consideration will be given to applicants who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy**, onsite childcare facilities.

The University of Southampton is in the top 1% of world universities and in the top 10 of the UK’s research-intensive universities. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible university and has recently been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.  Our vision is to embed the principles of sustainability into all aspects of our individual and collective work, integrating sustainable development into our business planning, policy-making, and professional activities.  This commits all of our staff and students to take responsibility for managing their activities to minimise harm to the environment, whether this through switching off non-essential electrical equipment or using the recycling facilities.

*Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification.  The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD.   Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

**subject to qualifying criteria

Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Min Kwan Kim (m.k.kim@soton.ac.uk).  Applications are only accepted via the online application process.