School of Engineering, College of Science & Engineering, Institute for Energy Systems 

Grade UE07 -  £39,347 - £46,974 per annum

Fixed term contract: up to 24 months

Full time: 35 hours per week 

The Opportunity

A Research Associate position is available to contribute to the fluid mechanics and bioinspired engineering research activities of the Vortex Interaction Laboratory (VOILAb, https://voilab.eng.ed.ac.uk) in the School of Engineering of the University of Edinburgh. The post holder will have specialist expertise in particle image velocimetry (PIV). The position is at UE07 and available on a fixed term basis for up to 24 months. 

This position will contribute to different VOILAb activities in the field of experimental fluid dynamics. The main focus of this research position is the study of the aerodynamics of free-falling particles undertaking time-resolved particle image velocimetry with a continuous laser in a vertical wind tunnel. (see, https://voilab.eng.ed.ac.uk/dandidrone). This bio-inspired project aims at the development of flying sensors passively transported and distributed by the wind. They will contribute to protecting the environment by providing data on the contamination of physical and biological systems and on the impact of human activities. To date, a key limitation of this technology is that insect-scale sensing drones can remain airborne only for a few minutes. By contrast, some natural flyers such as the dandelion fruit, travel unpowered for days and hundreds of kilometres. Previous VOILAb’s work published in Nature (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0604-2) revealed that the dandelion adopts a highly porous wing to form a new fluid vortex that has never been observed before, the separated vortex ring. This project aims to exploit the underlying fluid mechanics mechanisms that allow the dandelion to remain airborne to increase the endurance of dandelion-inspired drones. 

The post holder is also expected to contribute to the wider range of activities within VOILAb including, for example, the study of the fluid-structure interaction of flexible blades for wind and tidal turbines in collaboration with industry partners. The post holder is expected to lead knowledge exchange activities with the wind and tidal energy sector as well as experimental in the FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility (https://www.flowave.co.uk) using particle tracking velocimetry and Shake-The-Box (e.g. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-022-00832-z). 

The start for this position is between 1st November 2024 and 1st February 2025. Later starts will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Your skills and attributes for success

• Knowledgeable in, and passionate about, fluid mechanics
• Experienced in experimental fluid mechanics
• Being strongly driven and self-motivated

Click here for a copy of the full job description 

As a valued member of our team, you can expect

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. 
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefits. 

Championing equality, diversity and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality. 

Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab).

The University is able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role.  If successful, an international applicant requiring sponsorship to work in the UK will need to satisfy the UK Home Office’s English Language requirements and apply for and secure a Skilled Worker Visa.  

Notes on the Application

Please attach to your application two PDF files including: 

1. a cover letter detailing your motivation and why you think that your application fits the job description, the essential and the desirable criteria; 
2. a CV including, between other items of your choice, a complete job history; a list of your academic qualifications; a list and detailed description of any award; a full publication list with separated headings for: (i) peer-reviewed journal articles submitted, (ii) published or in press, (iii) peer-reviewed conference proceedings, (iv) other outputs. 

FILE NAMES

The cover letter and the CV must be two separate PDF files named as follows,

1. [First Name][FAMILY NAME]_CL.pdf, 
2. [First Name][FAMILY NAME]_CV.pdf.

For example: James Andrew Smith should upload a cover letter and a CV named as follows,

1. JamesSMITH_CL.pdf,
2. JamesSMITH_CV.pdf.

Interviews will be held 25th October 2024 

If invited for interview you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.