Al-Rafidain University College

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Sustainable & Inclusive Space Innovation for the Cislunar Economy – Multisensorial Communications and Analytical Visualization of Space Risks The Role and Department The Department of Management and Marketing at Durham University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to advance research and impact on the topic of Sustainable and Inclusive Space Innovation for the Cislunar Economy, with a particular emphasis on multisensorial communications and analytical visualization to mitigate emerging space risks. We welcome applications from those with research interests in the field of Space Innovation, Technology Governance, Multisensorial Sciences, and Analytical Visualization to join us. We are particularly eager to hear from applicants with demonstrated experiences in conducting novel qualitative and quantitative research. The successful post-holder will be supervised by Dr Nikita Chiu, Associate Professor in Space Innovation & Technology Governance, and will have the opportunity to be affiliated with research centres based at Durham University. This post offers an exciting opportunity to make a major contribution to the development of internationally excellent research at the intersection of Space Innovation, Business, and Governance. For more information, please visit our Department pages at - Durham University Business School. This post is fixed term for up to 24 months with an envisioned commencement in April 2026. The funding is available from 1 April 2026 for this fixed period only. The role will be supported by the Strategic Research Fund in association with the Space Research Centre at Durham University. The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols. Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 01/04/2026 or as soon as possible thereafter, with an earlier start date desirable.

The primary responsibility of this role is to deliver on an academic research project funded by MPA, where you will be part of the research team under the project titled: HarbourCraftSafe: Fire Resilinet Battery Room Design for Next-Gen Electric Habour. The project is in collaboration with two local industry collaborators. Under this job title, you will develop a CFD modelling platform to evaluate the combustion, flammable and toxic gases emission and dispersion characteristics resulted from battery fires/thermal runaway in the battery room and beyond, considering the various common battery chemistries in eHC and atmospheric conditions. You will also need to experimentally characterise the heat release rate (HRR), flammable and toxic gases emissions of various types of batteries potentially deployed in eHC through reduced scale testing. Lastly, you will also need to evaluate the various gas monitoring sensors performance in detecting the battery gas releases for remote monitoring and early detection, and evaluate the potential fire suppression strategies on battery fires. Job Responsibilities:  Participate in and manage the research project with Principal Investigator (PI), Co-PI and the research team members to ensure all project deliverables are met. Undertake these responsibilities in the project: i. Assists in co-supervision of final year projects (FYP) or capstone projects students under the Project PI. ii. Meeting the deliverables by carrying out the computational simulations and experimental studies planned for under the scope of work of the projects within the timeframe to meet the deliverables. iii. Assists the PI in drafting of reports, conference proceedings and journal articles based on the outcome of the projects. iv. Prepares and shares fortnightly report of results from the computations with the PI. Carry out Risk Assessment, and ensure compliance with Work, Safety and Health Regulations. Coordinate procurement and liaison with vendors/suppliers. Work independently, as well as within a team, to ensure proper operation and maintenance of equipment. Job Requirements: Master or Ph.D (preferred) in Mechanical Engineering, Marine and Offshore Engineering or related fields. Strong knowledge and experience in battery fire simulation is high advantageous. Hands on experience on experimental studies Familiarity with CFD applications working on industrial related projects using high performance computing clusters would also be advantageous Strong foundation in Fluid Dynamics Strong prior experience in CFD – particularly in battery fire combustion and spread. Strong skills in turbulence modelling, CFD mesh generation in complex 3D geometries. Proficient in handling large data sets and the ability to analysis and interpret results. Experience in commercial CFD package such as ANSYS package and FDS is preferred. Candidate preferably should be familiar and have sufficient experience in using ANSYS FLUENT and FDS, Meshing tool and post-processing software. Able to work independently with strong data analytical skills, communication and interpersonal skills. Key Competencies: Proficient in Ansys Fluent or FDS Simulation Strong foundation in Fluid Dynamics Able to work independently with strong data analytical skills, communication and interpersonal skills. Able to build and maintain strong working relationships with people within and external to the university. Self-directed learner who believes in continuous learning and development Proficient in technical writing and presentation Possess strong analytical and critical thinking skills Show strong initiative and take ownership of work

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 120 nationalities, 14,000 students, 400 professors and close to 5,000 faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community. The Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture (ARTS) is a Nordic leader in higher education for design, fashion, games, media, architecture, film, art education and fine art. We produce world-class research e.g. in design, digital media and visual culture, art education, urban planning and architecture. Our graduates innovate in and beyond their fields, drawing on over a century of tradition of our institution, a humane and forward-looking approach, and the latest technologies. The Department of Design is a community of creative and responsible researchers and design experts. We educate front-line design professionals and visionaries for established, changing and emerging fields of design. (https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-design). We are now looking for an Associate/Full Professor, Design Anthropology Design Anthropology is a thriving field straddling design research, ethnography and anthropology. It investigates practices, cultures, social formations and design with ethnographic methods, while incorporating insights from the design field about how the material and the conceptual aspects of social life are entangled. The key foci for design anthropology at Aalto are the processes of imagining, producing and making design outcomes, and the systems of signification that inform design and are reproduced by design. It can explore and develop different framings and styles of design, from DIY or community-based design to the high-tech and commercialized fields of design. An anthropological approach is significant for design in general and for the Department of Design at Aalto University in particular. The study of users, use, and design-in-action is a cornerstone of all work at the Department of Design. This aligns with the Department of Design's commitment to fostering inclusivity and societal dialogues through design, and to educating broad-minded change-makers. Your competency and goals We are looking to hire an ambitious and experienced colleague who has capacity to lead and collaborate in the continuous renewal of design education and design research, including: Demonstrated competence and excellent track record in design anthropology research Experience and high competence in university education Demonstrated ability to gain competed research funding Doctoral degree in design, anthropology or in a related relevant field Experience in academic responsibilities in university education and research management Experience in practical applications of design anthropology (e.g. in industry, public sector or community initiatives) is considered as an advantage Excellent skills in English, and Finnish proficiency is considered as an advantage. Your network and team The professor of design anthropology will work closely with the 18 professors and 12 lecturers at the department of design, particularly with MA programmes in collaborative and industrial design, creative sustainability and BA programme in design and media. Experience and ambitions We are looking for a person who will continue pursuing their excellent research and holds a collaborative attitude and an interest in inter-disciplinary collaboration, including collaboration beyond academia. Our expectation is that the candidate will join a research group or take responsibility for leading or establishing one. The professor will teach courses and supervise students across BA, MA and DA levels. What we offer The post offers a unique opportunity to develop a leading profile in design anthropology in a world leading academic department with a collaborative culture. Department of design at Aalto offers Meaningful and inspiring environment. We are proud of our purpose to shape a sustainable future. We spark the game changers of tomorrow and renew society with research-based knowledge and creativity. It’s the people that create Aalto, now and in the future. We want to be an open community where equality and inclusion enable curiosity, innovation, collaboration and wellbeing. The current post is geared towards taking a responsible and meaningful role with true impact in our university’s success, and in the end, in the wellbeing and development of our society. The university furthermore offers great possibilities for competence development and learning, and provides a support, coaching and sparring when you feel you need it. We constantly keep learning to find the most impactful ways to empower – and invest in – our people. Life on the Aalto campus is vibrant, featuring stunning architecture, tranquil nature, and a variety of cafes, restaurants, and services, all complemented by excellent public transportation connections. More information about Tenure career: Tenure track | Aalto University Join us! To apply, please share the following application documents with us through our recruitment site ("Apply now!”) at the latest at 23.59pm (EET) on April 1st, 2026 Motivation letter, including your vision for research and teaching in the applied position (2 pages). Curriculum vitae, using the following template: https://tenk.fi/en/advice-and-materials/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae A List of publications (with the three most significant publications highlighted) according to the instructions by Academy of Finland: List of publications - Research Council of Finland (aka.fi) Teaching portfolio including student feedback and self-evaluation, compiled according to Aalto guidelines: Teaching-competence-assessment_Guidelines-for-a-candidate_2024_Aalto-University.pdf From shortlisted candidates we might require also a research portfolio, but this is not requisite in this initial application round. Please note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account. If you are a student or visitor at Aalto University, please apply with your personal email address (not aalto.fi) via Aalto University open positions For more information about the role, kindly contact Professor Sampsa Hyysalo, sampsa.hyysalo@aalto.fi For questions related to the application process, kindly contact HR Partner Katju Helminen, katju.helminen@aalto.fi  Read more about working at Aalto: https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto Check out our new virtual campus experience: https://virtualtour.aalto.fi About Finland Finland is a great place for living with or without family – it is a safe, politically stable and well-organized Nordic society. For more information about living in Finland: Aalto Careers for International Staff More about Aalto University: Aalto.fi youtube.com/user/aaltouniversity linkedin.com/school/aalto-university/ www.facebook.com/aaltouniversity instagram.com/aaltouniversity To view information about Workday Accessibility, please click here. Please see more of our Open Positions here.