Research Associate/Fellow in (a) Experimental High Throughput Materials Discovery OR (b) Computational Materials with Machine Learning (Fixed term)

The University of Nottingham seeks applications for Research Associates/ Research Fellows to develop a Digital Materials Discovery Lab for the next generation of ceramics for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs)/environmental barrier coating for aerospace and space applications. You will be working either on the experimental or modelling aspects of the project.

The Centre of Excellence in Coatings and Surface Engineering, established in 2021 with multi-million EPSRC funding, hosts a materials discovery apparatus (MDA) for high throughput materials discovery from precursor liquid. With a series of pumps and stepper motors (Raspberry Pi/Arduino), a range of new compositions are developed daily, synthesised in a high-temperature furnace and characterised. The computer-controlled apparatus takes input from a machine-learning platform (Python-based) to produce new compositions. A cobot delivers the material to the furnace or a plasma spray to produce new coatings.

The proposed research is leading-edge and expected to lead to high-quality publications and industrial applications, making this an ideal industrial or academic career training opportunity.

Part of an EPSRC project with 20 industrial and 5 academic partners, this work will focus on integrating the high-throughput MDA with a batch processing high-temperature furnace, associated characterisation technique, and close-loop development of coatings using the high-energy plasma spray. Active learning, Bayesian optimisation, and Graph Neural Networks are core to this exciting project.

Candidates must have an excellent understanding of and preferably direct experience in motor controllers, machine learning, and Python programming skills. The expected split is 50-50 machine learning and automation.

This post is available on a fixed term basis until 30/09/2026. Hours of work are full-time (36.25 hours) ; however applications are also welcome from candidates wishing to work part-time (minimum 25 hours per week). Please specify in your application if you wish to work part time and the number of preferred hours. Job share arrangements may be considered.

Requests for secondment from internal candidates may be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role.

We welcome applications from UK, Europe and from across the globe. For more information on the support we offer our international colleagues, see our Moving to Nottingham pages.

For all successful international applicants, including EU/EEA applicants from January 2021, we offer an interest-free loan to help cover the cost of immigration-related expenses to the UK, including visas and the NHS surcharge. For more information download our Support with Immigration Expenses document.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof Tanvir Hussain, tel: 0115 951 3795 or email tanvir.hussain@nottingham.ac.uk
Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

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