Research Associate

We are seeking to recruit a Research Associate to support an Innovate UK-funded research project. This collaborative grant brings together the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, along with industrial partners, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge, high-impact research at the intersection of control engineering, artificial intelligence, and marine engineering.

About the role

Shipping currently produces greenhouse gas emissions on par with aviation, and significant efforts are underway to reduce its environmental impact. One promising approach is Wind-Assisted Propulsion, which decreases the thrust required from propellers and, consequently, the load on internal combustion engines. However, the optimal control of these propulsion systems remains an open challenge. This project builds on preliminary work using Reinforcement Learning for control strategies and aims to validate simulation results through wind tunnel testing.

About you

You should have:

• a PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• experience in designing and conducting experimental test campaigns.
• experience in simulation and modelling of dynamic systems.
• strong analytical and problem solving skills.

Further information

This is offered on a fixed-term basis from September 2025 until April 2026.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Nathan Sell (nps22@bath.ac.uk) or Özgür Şimşek (os435@bath.ac.uk).

As a member of Research Staff at the University of Bath, you will be encouraged to take up a minimum of 10 days professional development pro rata per year

A lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6) with comparable reduction in responsibilities and amendment in job title to Research Assistant, if a suitable applicant cannot be found to fill the Grade 7 position. Applicants will need to be within six months of their course completion date and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD has been awarded. 

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We're very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. an accredited Disability Confident Leader; autism friendly university, committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff. 

What we can offer you

We're continually expanding our benefits package to better support you and enhance your experience with us and the below is just an example of some of the many great benefits we offer:

• Free counselling services through Health Assured
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym
• Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees
• Staff discount on language courses
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes
• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning and more
• Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
• Local discounts and more
• A family-friendly workplace 

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