Research Associate (Civil and Environmental Engineering)

Location / Campus: South Kensington Campus - On site only

Job Summary 

Applications are encouraged for a Research Associate position as part of a UKRI research project that aims to recycle fibre glass composites from waste wind turbine blades for making low carbon concrete. 

Recycling waste wind turbine blades remains one of the biggest challenges in the wind energy sector, especially for the UK who is a global leader in offshore wind. Unfortunately, there is no effective recycling method available, and the waste blades have to go into landfill or being incinerated causing environmental issues and wasting valuable resources. This project aims to solve this urgent challenge by developing a new method of recycling waste wind blades for making low carbon concrete (WINDCRETE). 

Duties and responsibilities

You will be responsible for three major tasks.

1. Evaluate the pozzolanic reactivity of the recycled powders from grinding the waste wind blades.
2. Identify innovative solutions to maximize the pozzolanic reactivity of the recycled powders. These solutions will be optimized to achieve the best pozzolanic reactivity.
3. Quantify the fresh properties, strength development and durability of concrete with recycled powders. The results are used to optimize the cement replacement ratio to achieve the best strength and concrete durability.

These tasks will be achieved through advanced experimental techniques and thermodynamic modelling, to obtain a complete understanding of reaction kinetics, phase assemblage, system chemistries. 

You will be involved in the management of research projects, positively interacting and communicating with internal and external partners, developing research proposals, and collaborating with one PhD student also working on the project.

Essential requirements

• Hold a PhD in engineering, science or a closely related field, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience,
• Experience of working with cements and supplementary cementitious materials,
• Knowledge of cement chemistry, phase assemblage analysis and hydration reaction kinetics,
• Basic understanding of material properties,
• Proven track record of publishing high-quality papers in peer-reviewed journals,
• Ability to work independently and organise own work with minimal supervision,
• Ability to carry out work with a high level of accuracy, attention to detail, and critical thinking.

Further Information

As Imperial College staff, in addition to a competitive salary and package of attractive terms and conditions of service, we offer many more benefits to enjoy. This includes career development tailored to your ambitions, an attractive pension scheme, and generous family leave packages. We have a flexible, supportive work environment and encourage you to achieve and maintain a healthy work-life balance!

The anticipated start date is 1 September 2024, although this can be flexible depending on the circumstances of the candidate. This is a fixed term post for 12 months, with the possibility of further extension. 

For informal enquiries about the post please contact Dr Chao Wu at c.wu@imperial.ac.uk

Any queries regarding the application process should be directed to Briony Webb at b.webb@imperial.ac.uk

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant. 

Further information is available in the job description. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds and disabilities. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the interview process and to perform crucial job functions, as well as other support including staff networks. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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