Research Fellow Casting (Magnetic Materials)

Salary:

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £34,980 to £44,263 with potential progression once in post to £46,974. Grade 7 

Contract Type:

 Fixed Term contract up to February 2025

Role Summary

The Magnetic Materials Group (MMG) at the University of Birmingham has been building a bespoke world leading recycling facility for rare earth magnets using the patented HPMS process (Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap). The facility is funded through the UK fund (Driving the Electric Revolution). This research role will use this bespoke facility to separate, purify and to recast rare earth alloys from end of life products as part of the SCREAM project. The extracted materials will be used to manufacture magnets for multiple end user applications.

The aim of this role is to create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within the UKRI funded project “Scream”. The successful applicant will work with the Scream consortium and will be responsible for separation, purification and re-casting of rare earth neodymium iron boron alloys from a range of secondary feedstocks

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Coordinate with colleagues in the MMG (academic staff, technicians, postdocs and students) to fulfil the project targets set out within the work package descriptions for SCREAM.
• Coordinate with industrial partners across the value chain. Ie- by interpreting magnet specifications, collecting scrap applications, advising on pre-processing and magnet grades. 
• Analyse a range of end-of-life sintered NdFeB magnet applications and determine suitable processes for removing the magnets from the application. 
• To apply the HPMS process to a range of different scrap sources. 
• To develop downstream processes to remove impurities from the HPMS alloy powder. 
• Strip casting of rare earth neodymium iron boron alloys from a range of secondary feedstocks.
• Produce bespoke alloys by blending the HPMS powders with primary materials for recasting at targeted compositions. This will then be used for blending into secondary powders in a later process to produce sintered NdFeB magnets. The researcher will coordinate with a colleague on this part of the process. 
• Compositional analysis (ICP OES) of the starting materials, the extracted HPMS powder and the final cast alloys. 
• To disseminate research findings for journal publication, as well as additional patents describing the novel approach in the utilisation of recycled NdFeB magnets.

Person Specification

• First degree in relevant subject
• Completed, or near completion of a PhD in relevant subject (or be in possession of equivalent research experience)
• Ideally a strong experimental background and understanding in some of the following areas:
  • Sintering processes
  • Powder processing 
  • Glove box technologies 
  • Casting processes
  • Hydrogen processing of materials;
  • Measurement of physical and magnetic properties of magnetic materials;
  • Scanning electron microscopy 
• Good interpersonal skills to allow good working relationship with partner institutions
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly

Informal enquiries to Prof. Allan Walton via a.walton@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

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