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Research Fellow in Icing Science and Engineering

Employer
CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY
Location
Cranfield, United Kingdom
Salary
£28,929 - £41,478 per annum
Closing date
9 Feb 2025

Job Details

Faculty or Department: Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences
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: Expected to be until 31 March 2027
Salary: Research Fellow (if PhD obtained): Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £37,337 to £41,478 per annum; Research Assistant (if PhD close to completion): Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £28,929 to £33,825 per annum
Apply by: 09/02/2025

Role Description

The Centre for Propulsion Engineering within FEAS is looking to expand its internationally renowned activities with the recruitment of a Research Fellow in Icing Science and Engineering.

About the Role

Within the Centre, the icing team undertakes a wide range of activities, including research in ice adhesion, ice properties, instrumentation, as well as ice protection technologies and the impact of ice on aerodynamic components. In addition, the team works closely with a substantial number of national and international industrial partners in the aerospace and wind turbine sector. A key aspect of the activity is focused on experimental work with dedicated icing wind tunnel facilities, as well as a vertical droplet tunnel. The team also undertakes research in the area of fundamental modelling with molecular dynamic and ice/substrate interface bonding analysis.

This Research Fellow appointment is to support a new project to investigate the effect of ice accreditation on aircraft surfaces. The project will be an international collaboration between industry, academia and research institutions. The role within Cranfield will include:

  • Conducting icing experiments in the Cranfield Icing Wind Tunnel (IWT) facilities and providing support on test campaigns.
  • Participation in project experiments in large industrial wind tunnels.
  • Undertaking computational, analytical and modelling research for icing on aircraft wings and control surfaces.
  • The use of computational methods to evaluate the effect of icing roughness on wing aerodynamics.
  • Assisting technical staff with general operations, servicing and maintenance within the IWT facilities.
  • Dissemination of research findings through publication in high-quality journals and conferences.
  • Co-ordination of activities with colleagues as part of the project.
  • Responsibility for the research milestones and deliverables.

About You

You will hold a PhD (or close to completion) in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related subject with a record of publishing in high-quality journals.

Good skills in engineering experiment testing and measurements are required, and experience of icing experiments would be beneficial. Experience in computational modelling of icing accretion and the impact of icing on aerodynamic surfaces, and knowledge of icing science and engineering experiments in icing wind tunnel environment or complex icing rigs are preferred. Also of interest is knowledge of state-of-the-art 3D additive manufacturing process, as well as experience of collaborative industrial research.

Ability to communicate clearly at a technical level and capability of clearly summarising objectives and achievements for briefing colleagues and project partners is also essential. Candidates are expected to be confident independent researchers, educated at PhD level or equivalent, with good communication and presentation skills, as well as the ability to write reports and journal papers to a high standard.

Overall, the icing test facilities, and industrial relationships, are unique within the UK and offer a fantastic opportunity for research and development across a wide range of technology readiness levels. The position is within the Gas Turbine Technology group within the Centre for Propulsion and Thermal Power Engineering.

Due to the nature of this role, you will be required to obtain UK Security Clearance (BPSS).

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.

The Centre for Propulsion and Thermal Power Engineering is around 80 staff strong (including visiting academics) and one of the largest research and education activities within the University. The activity spans across land, off-shore, marine, air and space power and propulsion applications. Our activity is characterised by a close integration of taught and short course education and research and includes the internationally recognised Thermal Power and Propulsion MSc course. The activities within the Centre encompass a very wide range of topics including gas turbine performance modelling, propulsion aerodynamics, icing, combustion, computational fluid dynamics, advanced instrumentation, turbomachinery and thermal management. The Centre is also host to the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre for Aero Systems Design, Integration & Performance, testimony of the Centre’s global visibility and extensive links with industry.

More details on the Centre are available here. Further details on the icing test facilities are available here.

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 committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. 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.

How to apply

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Professor David MacManus, Professor of Propulsion Aerodynamics & Installations, on (E): d.g.macmanus@cranfield.ac.uk

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: peoplerecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk. Please quote reference number 5000.

Closing date for receipt of applications: 9 February 2025

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert prior to the stated closing date should we receive sufficient numbers of applications. Therefore, we would encourage you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Company

Cranfield is world-leading in its contribution to global innovation. With our emphasis on the aerospace, agrifood, defence and security, environmental technology, leadership and management, manufacturing and transport systems sectors, we have changed the way society thinks, works and learns.

We generate and transform knowledge, translating it to the benefit of society. Our partners, from micro SMEs to the largest blue-chip multinationals, from governments across the world to NGOs and charities, tell us this is what they value about Cranfield.

Innovation is part of Cranfield’s ‘corporate DNA’, evolved over 60 years of commitment to this agenda.

Our work informs policy for governments and produces new technologies and products for the world of commerce. We draw on this pool of research and consultancy to provide our students with a distinctive ‘real-world’ learning environment, allowing them to develop as professionals and transfer their new knowledge to the global economy. This has always been the ‘Cranfield way’ but it has never been more important than in today’s world.

People are key to our competitive advantage and so we need to attract, develop and retain the best talent for our business. We aim to create a culture where you can flourish and succeed and, in turn, contribute towards Cranfield’s success.

Company info
Telephone
+(44)01234 750111
Location
CRANFIELD
CRANFIELD
BEDFORDSHIRE
MK43 0AL
GB

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