Lecturer in Soft Manufacturing

Context

In our single biggest development since we were founded, UCL is expanding to east London. Located on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, UCL East is dedicated to disruptive thinking and discovery across disciplines and beyond academic walls, to find solutions to the biggest challenges for future living. We are located in Newham, east London - one of the most socially diverse parts of the UK - and we want our staff recruitment to reflect this.

UCL East seeks to unite academic activities across experiments, arts, society and technology, integrating research and education, theory and practice - with cross-disciplinarity, innovation and public engagement. More than just a conventional campus, UCL East represents a future focused mindset. We will deliver new research, technology and innovation, and undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes for up to 4,000 students.

This post sits in the Manufacturing Futures Lab (MFL) in the Marshgate Building. However, we do envisage staff to be travelling to Bloombury regularly to ensure their seamless integration into the Department's operation.

About the Department

At UCL Mechanical Engineering, we develop and apply core competencies to produce world-class research into a wider range of engineering challenges than most would imagine. Amongst many other avenues, we are exploring:

• Nanoengineering and interfacial engineering applications
• Developing new processes and properties for additively manufactured materials
• Designing lightweight hybrid materials for structural, thermal and space applications
• Healthcare engineering technologies with direct engagement of clinicians
• Designing green aero-engines
• Sustainable materials for the circular economy
• Green sustainable shipping
• Advanced manufacturing for marine applications
• Studying the micro/nanoscale thermofluidics technologies
• Robotic and autonomous systems

About the Faculty

The Faculty of Engineering Sciences currently comprises eleven academic departments that undertake research and training across a broad range of disciplines. Our teaching programmes are focused on subjects that have the greatest impact on the world around us, and their content is informed by internationally leading research. The products, processes and students we produce change the world we live in, and with our teaching, we aim to take bright, thoughtful, creative people and give them the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to engineer abetter world through innovative undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.

The MFL is an interdisciplinary academic entity that sits within UCL's Engineering and MAPS Faculties with the Departments of Mechanical, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering as well as Chemistry participating. Our vision is to conduct cross-cutting, multidisciplinary research that will have a deep impact across the nanotechnology, chemical, pharmaceutical, energy, healthcare, transport and electronics sectors.

About the role

We are pleased to be recruiting for a Lecturer in Soft Manufacturing to lead in the running and further development of soft manufacturing (soft materials and manufacturing) technologies, innovation and enterprise at the MFL and carry out world-class research to complement or expand the cross-cutting multidisciplinary activities of the MFL, UCL East and UCL; to raise funds in order to support their research programme, postdoctoral research staff and PhD students and to publish world-leading research; and to perform the normal administrative duties expected of a member of academic staff.

Duties and responsibilities

• To develop a programme of original research and produce publications, or other research outputs, in the broad area of soft materials/manufacturing technologies.
• To lead and facilitate multidisciplinary research and teaching activities between Mechanical Engineering and the MFL at UCL East. Specifically, to expand and further develop a successful postgraduate Master's course at UCL East on Future Manufacturing and Nanoscale Engineering and interface with other UCL East stakeholders.
• To contribute to the MFL, Departmental, Faculty, or UCL-wide working groups or committees as requested.
• To seek and manage research grants to support their research programme in accordance with UCL Financial Regulations and the conditions of the funding body. To recruit, manage and lead researchers to support their research programme. To ensure that results are recorded, analysed and written up in a timely fashion and that reports are provided for funding bodies as required.
• To submit papers to appropriate journals, attend, and present findings at appropriate conferences.
• To lead and assist in the development of the curriculum, learning materials, preparing schemes of work and maintain records to monitor student progress, achievement and attendance.
• To teach, at both undergraduate and graduate level as required including, laboratory and lecture courses and tutorials. To participate in the development, administration and marking of exams and other assessments. To provide pastoral care and support to students. Postholders supported by a fellowship will carry a teaching load in accord with the requirements of the fellowship.
• To supervise or assist with supervision of undergraduate, taught graduate (Masters) or research graduate (MPhil/PhD) students.
• Actively promote UCL East's academic values of interdisciplinarity, collaboration, and public engagement. To maintain own continuing professional development.
• This job description reflects present requirements. As duties evolve, it will be reviewed periodically with the post holder, and amended if necessary.
• The post holder will maintain awareness of, and actively follow, all UCL policies and Fire and Health & Safety Regulations.
• The post holder will support and advance UCL's equality diversity and inclusion ambitions.

About you

We are keen to receive applications from holders of a PhD in the Engineering, Materials Science or Natural sciences and an appropriate background and research expertise to make significant contributions at the forefront of international research in the field of future manufacturing. The successful candidate will have experience in curriculum development in materials engineering, advanced manufacturing or related disciplines at an undergraduate or postgraduate level and be able to provide evidence of participating/leading on research grants.

Additional desirable criteria that will enhance your application can include experience of some or all of the following:

• Teaching engineering/ manufacturing and/or innovation/ technology entrepreneurship modules at an undergraduate or postgraduate level.
• Supporting the development of students / PhD students / early career researchers / direct reports, through mentoring, sponsorship or personal tutoring.
• Leading positive culture change, or culture creation, within a discipline, department or organisation
• Developing teaching technologies, course design and assessment techniques
• Successful supervision to completion of doctoral students.

How to Apply

You can upload two documents with your application, which should include all of the following:

• Cover letter
• CV
• Full publications list
• A list of three major research achievements to date and a starred list of top five publications, together with a short description (100 words max) of their significance (2 page max)
• 3 page (max) descriptions of the research plans you propose to pursue at UCL, including how the proposed research would contribute to the MFL and departments' research profiles
• Teaching experience to date (1 page max)

Applications missing above content may be rejected without consideration.

Please contact our Senior Recruiter, Taneta Darko for all queries that relate to the application process.

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 & 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.