The Research Associate will join a group of researchers working on Ultra High Temperature Ceramics for Transpiration Cooling, supported by both a project from the Engineering and Physical Research Council of the UK as well as a project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Both projects aim to develop transpiration cooling as a key technology for increasing the efficiency of hypersonic flight components. The projects are highly multidisciplinary and involve materials scientist, experimental fluid flow experts as well as experts in computational methods. The post holder will be hosted by the research group of Professor Luc Vandeperre in the Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/structuralceramics) in Imperial’s Department of Materials. The successful candidate will closely collaborate with groups at: the thermofluids laboratory of the University of Oxford (Professor Matthew McGilvray), the University of Stuttgart (Professor Stafan Loehle), the University of Queensland (Professor Ray Stalker) and Fluid Gravity Engineering in Oxford. The main responsibility is manufacture demonstrators capable of being tested in near-real conditions to evaluate the value of transpiration cooling for hypersonic flight. Clear here to go to the application form.

Duties and responsibilities

Key Responsibilities include:

  • To readily and autonomously implement investigations into the fabrication of designed porous structures in ultra-high temperature ceramics.
  • To investigate effect of such pores on the residual mechanical and thermo-physical properties of the ceramics.
  • To respect as much as possible deliverable dates and keep collaborators informed of progress by regular contact and by presenting at progress meetings
  • To analyse results, determine their scientific meaning, and disseminate them through journal publications, conference presentations and to research sponsors and collaborators – both informally and formally.
  • To maintain accurate and complete records of all experiments and calculations.
  • To actively participate in project meetings and liaise when appropriate with the project industrial sponsors.
  • To travel, when appropriate, in the UK, or elsewhere to attend international conferences and present research results.
  • To ensure the validity and reliability of data at all times.
  • To engage proactively with the other project researchers and collaborate to achieve the goals of the project
  • To monitor new progress published in the open literature in the field of the project.

Essential requirements

Candidates/post holders will be expected to demonstrate the following:

  • Research Assistant, near completion of PhD (or equivalent) in an area pertinent to the research subject, e.g. Materials Science, Physics and/or Chemistry of Materials.
    A PhD degree* (or equivalent) in an area pertinent to the research subject, e.g. Materials Science, Physics and/or Chemistry of Materials.
    *Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant within the salary range £36,694- £39,888 per annum.
  • Research, as evidenced by peer-reviewed journal publications.
  • Experience of communicating research in English (international conference oral presentations).
  • Understanding of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of ceramic monoliths.
  • Experience with calculating heat exchange and or predicting mechanical properties.
  • Experience of student mentoring.
  • Experience of working with experimental and theoretical scientists.

Further information

Informal enquiries and requests for additional information for this post can be made to: Professor Vandeperre via e-mail: l.vandeperre@imperial.ac.uk

Further guidance may be sought from Mrs Darakshan Khan (d.khan@imperial.ac.uk).