Job Description

Job title: / Research Assistant /Associate – 3 Posts
Department/School: / Department of Mechanical Engineering
Grade: / Grade 6– Research Assistant
Grade7 – Research Associate
Location: / Claverton Down Campus, University of Bath
Job purpose
These posts have been created to utilise the newly upgraded Chassis Dynamometer facility within the Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre (PVRC) at the University of Bath. The project is jointly funded by an Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) grant and Jaguar LandRover. The job title and grade will be dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the successful applicant.
TheResearch Associate/Assistant positions will support vehicle-based research in collaboration with Jaguar LandRover to investigate novel automotive transmissions systems, vehicle thermal systems development, chassis dynamometer repeatability and implications of real world driving conditions.
Contribute to the planning, management and experimental testing to support vehicle-based research with a focus on one of the following 3 areas of investigation with 1 appointment in each area:
Automotive transmission systems – This work will evaluate the suitability and performance of novel transmission systems on the chassis dynamometer facility at the University of Bath. Expertise on chassis dynamometer operation, transmission system design and evaluation and single/dual clutch systems would be highly beneficial.
Automotive thermal systems – This work will investigate the performance of current production heat exchangers within the vehicle engine compartment as well as novel technologies. Assessment of heat exchanger efficiency in relation to ambient environmental conditions and packaging constraints will also be considered. Experimental data will be used to validate modelling predictions. Expertise on chassis dynamometer operation, heat transfer modelling and heat exchanger systems would be highly beneficial.
Measurement accuracy and real world driving – This work will examine sources of error within current vehicle chassis dyno evaluations and develop procedures and processes to mitigate these errors to improve accuracy and repeatability of results. The impact of real world driving effects, such as changes in driver style, environmental conditions and traffic conditions will be evaluated to assess how best to replicate these within a controlled chassis dyno environment. Expertise on chassis dynamometer operation is essential, with knowledge of uncertainty analysis, driver behaviour, on-road vehicle evaluation and vehicle calibration considered to be highly beneficial.
Source and nature of management provided
You will report to Dr Chris Bannister, Dr Sam Akehurst and Prof Chris Brace within the Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre at the University of Bath.
Staff management responsibility
None, although day to day supervision of other staff e.g. technical staff or supervision of doctoral or undergraduate students may be required.
Special conditions
None
Main duties and responsibilities
1 / To conductor assist in high quality individual and collaborative vehicle-based research within the Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre, under the direction of the academic investigators.
2 / Contribute to the planning of experimental programmes on the Chassis Dynamometer facility to support the project and undertake detailed analysis of gathered data as well as correlation with theoretical / simulation results
3 / Toundertake literature reviews and continually update your knowledge and understanding in the area of real world driving, thermal systems or novel transmissions. This may also involve detailed analysis of existing data sets supplied by Jaguar LandRover.
4 / To attend and present at project review meetings (to be held at Bath, or at the Jaguar LandRover’s sites)
5 / To prepare or assist in the preparation of written progress reports for such meetings and present these as required
6 / To contribute to the preparation of high quality research papers (in collaboration with the academics) for submission to peer reviewed journal and conferences and to attend and present at such conferences as required
7 / To identify possible sources of funding and provide assistance in preparing bids to funding bodies as appropriate
8 / Contribute to project management: e.g. timetabling and meeting project milestones; prioritise multiple lines of work within a single project (Both University and External).
9 / Disseminate knowledge of research advances to inform departmental teaching effort as appropriate
You will from time to time be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature as reasonably required by your line manager.

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Appendix B

Person Specification – Research Assistant (Grade 6)

Criteria / Essential / Desirable / Assessed by
A/F / I/T / R
Experience/Knowledge
Relevant research work experience in a related area. / √ / √ / √ / √
Demonstrates depth and breadth of specialist knowledge and experience in the area of IC Engine development or vehicle evaluation / √ / √ / √ / √
Skills
Ability to organise and prioritise own workload / √ / √ / √
Ability to write progress reports and research papers and to effectively disseminate outcomes / √ / √ / √
Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written skills / √ / √ / √
Ability to present and communicate ideas. / √ / √ / √
Proficiency in IT skills especially MS Office and MatLab. / √ / √ / √
Attributes
Tenacity with an ability to work to achieve objectives / √ / √ / √
Self-confidence when communicating with a wide range of stakeholders / √ / √
Ability to work independently / √ / √
Enthusiasm and self-motivation / √ / √ / √ / √
An effective team worker / √ / √ / √
Qualifications
A good first degree in a subject area of direct relevance to the project (e.g. Mechanical or Automotive Engineering). / √ / √
Master level qualification / √ / √

Code: A/F – Application form, I/T – Interview/Test, R – References

Person Specification – Research Associate (Grade 7)

Criteria / Essential / Desirable / Assessed by
A/F / I/T / R
Experience/Knowledge
Post doctoral experience – preferably in industrially-linked projects / √ / √ / √ / √
Demonstrates significant depth and breadth of knowledge and experience in the area of IC Engine development or vehicle evaluation. / √ / √ / √ / √
Experience of undertaking high quality research. / √ / √ / √
Demonstrates potential to publish in high quality, peer reviewed journals / √ / √ / √
Skills
Ability to organise and prioritise own workload / √ / √ / √ / √
Ability to write progress reports and research papers and to effectively disseminate outcomes / √ / √ / √ / √
Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills / √ / √ / √ / √
Ability to prepare research proposals, to conduct individual research work and to disseminate results / √ / √ / √ / √
Proficiency in IT skills especially MS Office and the ability to process and analyse large datasets using MatLab. / √ / √ / √
Ability to present and communicate ideas. / √ / √ / √ / √
Ability to contribute to the management of research / √
Attributes
Tenacity with an ability to work to achieve objectives / √ / √ / √
Self-confidence when communicating with a wide range of stakeholders / √ / √
Ability to work independently, plan and deliver work to meet required deadlines / √ / √ / √
Enthusiasm and self-motivation / √ / √ / √ / √
Ability to be an effective team worker / √ / √ / √
Qualifications
A PhD degree (or be close to submission) in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering or similar with direct relevance to the project. Alternatively, an equivalent professional qualification orconsiderable industrial experience in a relevant field / √ / √

Code: A/F – Application form, I/T – Interview/Test, R – References

Human Resources Page 129/11/2018