Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Computational Mechanics for Wind Energy Composite Structures

The role

The University of Bristol invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the EPSRC-funded BladeUp Prosperity Partnership, a collaboration with Vestas, the world’s largest manufacturer of wind turbine blades and wind turbines, and LMAT, a specialist SME in composites process modelling. The project focuses on the design, manufacture and performance of next-generation wind turbine blades, aiming to enable faster, cheaper, and more robust production through machine learning, multi-scale modelling, and advanced process simulation.

The successful candidate will be based at the Bristol Composites Institute, the UK’s largest university-based composites research centre, and will work closely with leading academic and industrial partners. You will contribute to the development of computational tools for the design and optimisation of large-scale wind turbine blades, helping to deliver new engineering methods into industrial practice.

We are seeking a researcher with expertise in:

• Stochastic Structural Design, e.g. robust design under uncertainty and reliability analysis of full-scale wind systems,

complementing established project activities in:

• multi-scale finite-element modelling of manufacturing defects and fatigue;
• simulation and optimisation of liquid composite moulding and curing processes;
• advanced modelling techniques for large-scale composite simulation and integration with research and industrial software environments.

We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and supportive research environment.

Applicants should have expertise in two or more of the following areas: computational mechanics, composite manufacturing, stochastic design, aeroelasticity, wind turbine engineering, or multi-scale modelling. Experience with relevant software tools (e.g. Abaqus, ANSYS, MATLAB, Python) and an interest in developing industry-ready research tools are strongly encouraged.

What will you be doing?

• Conducting high-impact research in composite and structural modelling, and stochastic design, contributing to the future of blade manufacturing.
• Collaborating with leading academic and industrial teams to co-develop next-generation design and optimisation tools.
• Analysing large experimental and simulation datasets to improve blade performance, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Publishing your findings in top journals and presenting at international conferences, with opportunities to contribute to tool integration and industrial implementation.

You should apply if

• You have a PhD (or are near completion) in engineering, materials science, computational mechanics, or a closely related field.
• You have expertise in one or more of the following: finite element modelling, composite manufacturing, machine learning, or stochastic design.
• You are motivated to work across academic–industrial boundaries and contribute to practical solutions for clean energy technologies.
• You enjoy collaborative, interdisciplinary research and are eager to publish, present, and translate your work into real-world impact.

Additional information

For informal queries please contact:

Sarah Hallworth, BladeUp Project Manager (sarah.hallworth@bristol.ac.uk)

To find out more about what it's like to work in the Faculty of Engineering, and how the Faculty supports people to achieve their potential, please see our staff blog: https://engineering.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/category/engineering-includes-me/

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