Imperial College London

Imperial College London

Job Description

Job Title: Research Associate

Department: Mechanical Engineering

Faculty: Engineering

Job Family/Level: Academic and Research, Level B

Salary Range: £33,410 - £42,380 per annum

Contract: Full time, fixed term for up to 2 years in the first instance

Location: South Kensington

Reporting to: Dr F Cegla, Non-Destructive Evaluation Group

Summary of the post The Research Associate will work in the Non-destructive Evaluation Group. They will work on specific projects whose detailed objectives will be defined in consultation with the sponsors.

Key Responsibilities:

· To plan and carry out research in accordance with the project aims.

· To generate and display the results and interpret their physical implications.

· To work in conjunction with others in the development and manufacturing of electrochemical test cells.

· To carry out finite element simulations of the characteristics of ultrasonic transducer such as the beam profile, temporal response, resonant frequencies, etc..

· To carry out microscopy and optical surface characterisation measurements on corroding samples.

· To carry out laser Doppler vibrometer measurements of the displacements fields excited by ultrasonic transducers.

· To build test rigs that confirm the performance of prototype electrochemical cells and ultrasonic transducers

· To work in conjunction with others in the development and manufacturing of novel ultrasonic transducers.

· To write progress reports and prepare results for publication and dissemination via presentations and the world wide web.

· To maintain accurate and complete records of all findings

· To liaise with industrial partners.

· To present research findings to colleagues and at conferences.

· To conduct literature searches and reviews.

· To develop contacts and research collaborations within the Department and wider academic community in order to further the project aims.

· Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as directed by the line manager.

To observe and comply with all College policies and regulations, including the key policies and procedures on Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest, Data Protection, Equal Opportunities, Financial Regulations, Health and Safety, Imperial Expectations (for new leaders, managers and supervisors), Information Technology, Private Engagements and Register of Interests, and Smoking.

To undertake specific safety responsibilities relevant to individual roles, as set out on the College Website Health and Safety Structure and Responsibilities page (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/policies/organisationandarrangements).

Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating discrimination. All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out in its Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy and all other relevant guidance/practice frameworks.

Person Specification

Applicants are required to demonstrate that they possess the following attributes:

Imperial Expectations

These are the 7 principles that Imperial leaders, managers and supervisors are expected to follow:

1) Champion a positive approach to change and opportunity

2) Communicate regularly and effectively within, and across, teams

3) Consider the thoughts and expectations of others

4) Deliver positive outcomes

5) Encourage inclusive participation and eliminate discrimination

6) Support and develop staff to optimise talent

7) Work in a planned and managed way

Education and Qualifications

· A PhD (or equivalent experience and/or qualifications) (or near completion of PhD) in an area pertinent to the research subject ie Electro-Chemistry, Engineering or Physics and.

· A first degree (or equivalent experience and/or qualifiactions) in Electro-Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics or Electrical Engineering.

Experience and Knowledge

· Research, as evidenced by published output.

· As background in Electro-Chemistry is essential

· Some background in building electrochemical test setups is required.

· Some background in quantifying the effectiveness of corrosion inhibitor is required.

· Some background in Potentiostat measurements is required.

· Some background of building of test rigs to evaluate the performance of ultrasonic transducers is desirable.

· Some background in building ultrasonic transducers is desirable.

· Some background knowledge about elastic wave propagation is desirable.

Skills and Abilities

· Analytical skills.

· Good computer literacy including data-bases, spread sheets and statistical analysis.

· Ability to relate to other researchers, and students in an academic context.

· Ability to interact successfully with others to learn and teach new skills.

· Ability to present themselves at conferences and seminars with authority and coherence.

· Excellent written communication skills and the ability to write technical reports clearly and succinctly for publication.

· Ability to organise and prioritise own work with minimal supervision.