Research Fellow

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to January 2026

Background

With support from the British Council, the University of Birmingham is collaborating with partners in Egypt to implement novel desalination technology to treat industrial effluents. The project will build on recent work at the University to develop highly efficient batch reverse osmosis technology and apply it to industrial water reuse. As well as advancing the batch reverse osmosis process, the project is expected to integrate related processes such as ultrafiltration and photocatalysis to meet the requirements of applications. The Research Fellow will be required to create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities such as design of water desalination and reuse systems, experimental work, and liaison with academic and industrial partners to achieve the technology transfer goals of the project.

Role Summary

• Work within the research grant ‘Innovation in industrial wastewater treatment and water reuse’, sponsored by the International Science Partnership Fund (supported by the British Council and by the Science, Technology and Funding Authority, Egypt)
• Operate within specialised areas of water desalination using membranes and related processes
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results 
• Contribute to generating funding 
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar

Main Duties

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

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research in collaboration with industrial and international stakeholders (with assistance of a mentor if required)
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Undertake experimental work, analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline

Person Specification

Essential

• First degree in area of specialism (such as Chemical, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering) and normally, a higher degree relevant to research area - or equivalent qualifications or industrial experience
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively 
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort

Informal enquiries to Philip Davies, email: p.a.davies@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.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

Advert information