Research Fellow in Adhesively Bonded Joints for Aerospace Structures

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The role

The Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Surrey is seeking to recruit a full-time researcher to the project: “Multi-Application BONDing” (MABOND), funded by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and GKN Aerospace. The role is funded until June 2027, with an extension to December 2027 likely to be granted. We are looking for someone to start as soon as possible.

The successful candidate will work with a number of other UK-based industrial aerospace and academic partners within the project consortium, and assist in the characterisation of the strength and ageing of adhesively bonded joints for aerospace structures. Various composite and metallic adherends will be considered. The candidate will use their understanding of structural mechanics and materials science to identify the underlying failure mechanisms and generate an appropriate set of allowables for other engineers to use in future. The modelling they perform will capture the mechanics of failure from the molecular to the macroscopic scale.

The Research Fellow’s role will be to undertake the majority of the experimental work (in collaboration with the University technical staff), and to assist with the numerical modelling that complements the experimental work. The analyses undertaken will include mechanical testing, surface chemical analysis (XPS, ToF-SIMS and ATR-FTIRS) and electron microscopy, and Finite Element Analysis of the bonded joints. The Research Fellow will also assist in reporting to the sponsor, and disseminating the results at conferences and in academic journals.

About you

We are looking for applicants who hold, or are near completion of, a PhD in a relevant subject. Relevant professional experience will also be considered. The successful applicant will demonstrate experience and knowledge of one or more of the following areas:

- Strength of materials experimental work (such as tensile, compressive, double cantilever beam) carried out according to appropriate standard methods (ASTM, ISO).
- Modelling of structural failure using Finite Element Analysis (in particular bonded joints).
- Ageing mechanisms in polymers and polymer composites (thermal, moisture, etc.).
- Surface chemistry analysis using various experimental techniques.

In addition to supporting the research project with internal and external collaborators, the position will serve as a platform for the Research Fellow to develop their career and profile as an independent researcher. 

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Prof John Watts in the School of Mechanical Engineering Sciences, and will join an existing team of academics and researchers on the project. Please note that this work will take place under UK Strategic Export Control PL9009, which may restrict the participation of nationals from certain countries.

How to apply

For informal enquiries please contact Professor John Watts FREng at j.watts@surrey.ac.uk  or +44(0)1483 68 9617.

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