Research Associate in Cement Chemistry

Fixed term for 24 months

South Kensington Campus

Job Summary

Applications are encouraged for a Research Associate position as part of a research project that strives to develop and optimise a low carbon cement from steel electric arc furnace slag produced with end-of-life concrete. The project is funded by EPSRC and is titled  Cambridge Electric Cement: Zero-emissions cement from old concrete paste replacing flux in electric-arc furnaces (ukri.org).

This research project involves academic investigators from both the University of Cambridge and the University of Warwick, as well as Imperial College and other industrial partners.

You will be responsible for characterising the properties of clinker produced in an electric arc furnace and developing viable mix designs including this clinker, water, and admixtures such as gypsum. You will assess the influence of the various factors on clinker properties, and properties of the electric arc furnace clinker will be compared to the Portland cement clinker.

This knowledge will be developed from fundamental thermodynamic understanding of phase formation in the electric arc furnace and how this relates to the engineering properties of the resulting clinker. You will have access to FactSage and relevant thermodynamic databases to support this part of the research.

Duties and responsibilities

This research will be supported by experimental analysis. You will be expected to fulfil the following tasks:

• Produce electric arc furnace clinker in collaboration with colleagues at all institutions
• Create viable cement mix designs incorporating this clinker as the primary component,
• Cure these cements to form pastes,
• Characterise these materials using the suite of methods that are available in the state-of-the-art Advanced Infrastructure Materials Laboratory. Thermodynamic modelling of the cement hydration will be performed using GEMS and CEMDATA to support this characterisation work.

This role will involve both thermodynamic modelling and experimental materials characterisation and is an excellent opportunity for a high reaching/dedicated researcher with an interest in cement chemistry. It will require regular contributions to a variety of normal academic tasks, including positively interacting and communicating with internal and external collaborators, supervising masters students, demonstrating research excellence and leadership to more junior members of the Research Group. You will thus receive strong mentoring in a highly stimulating academic research environment, with access to internationally leading academics, industrial partners, research facilities, and networks.

Essential requirements

• Hold a PhD in engineering, science or a closely related field, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience
• Experimental experience in a research laboratory
• Expert understanding of material properties
• Productive track record of publishing high-quality papers in peer-reviewed journals
• Ability to learn new skills and build relationships with new people in an effective manner

Further Information

The closing date for applications is 28 February 2023, for an anticipated start date of 1 October 2023. Earlier start dates in 2023 may be possible, depending on the circumstances of the candidate. This is a fixed term post for 24 months.

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

For informal enquiries about the post please contact Dr Rupert Myers on   r.myers@imperial.ac.uk.

Further information is available in the job description.

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

Closing date: 28/02/2023

To apply, visit www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs and search by the job reference ENG02428.

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