Research Assistant or Associate in High Performance Computing for Computational Fluid Dynamics Applications

Location: South Kensington campus, hybrid working

About the role:

Applications are invited for a fully funded fixed-term at the Research Assistant / Associate (PostDoc) level in high performance computing for computational fluid dynamics applications. 

High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems are essential infrastructure for solving complex scientific and engineering challenges. However, the rapid growth of HPC alongside AI is creating an urgent sustainability challenge, making energy-efficient computing a critical research priority. 

This project addresses this challenge through a novel co-design approach that simultaneously optimizes both hardware and software for maximum performance per watt. You will investigate how configurable and customizable processing technologies can be leveraged to create fundamentally more energy-efficient Computational Fluid Dynamics algorithms.

The research focuses on wind energy applications, creating a compelling sustainability narrative: developing more efficient computational methods to optimize wind farm performance, which in turn generates clean energy that can power future HPC systems. 

What you would be doing:

You will design, implement and test energy-efficient Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) algorithms by leveraging energy-efficient hardware within the open-source finite-difference framework Xcompact3d.

You will perform high-fidelity simulations of large-scale wind farms using the wind farm simulator using a wide range of hardware (including CPUs and GPUs).

What we are looking for:

Research Associate: Hold a PhD in high performance computing, computational fluid dynamics or a closely related discipline*, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience.

Research Assistant: A first/masters degree (or equivalent) high performance computing, computational fluid dynamics, or a closely related discipline.

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

• Expert in programming on supercomputers
• Expert in computational fluid dynamics
• Experience collaborating with industry partners and diverse research teams
• Creative problem-solving skills and ability to work independently

What we can offer you:

• Join an exciting multi-disciplinary project looking at a more sustainable high performance computing landscape.
• The opportunity to design algorithms for energy efficient hardware such as RISC-V.
• The opportunity to interact with high performance computing companies like NVIDIA, XILINK (AMD) and HPE.
• The opportunity to contribute to Xcompact3d, an open source framework of flow solvers dedicated to the study of turbulent flows on supercomputers.
• Access to state-of-the-art high performance computing facilities.
• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Grow your career: Gain access to Imperial’s sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes).

Further Information

We are hoping that the successful candidate will start his contract in before the end of 2025. The candidate will be based in the Department of Aeronautics at Imperial College London but will also interact with colleagues at the University of Cambridge and at the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre.

If you require any further details on the role please contact: Sylvain LAIZET -s.laizet@imperial.ac.uk

If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/aeronautics/about/work-with-us/ - Please use reference ENG03595

Closing date: 31^st July 2025 

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