Research Fellow x2 (111127-1225)

About the Role

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor James Sprittles at j.e.sprittles@warwick.ac.uk.

Applications are invited for two Research Fellows to work with Professor James Sprittles and collaborators on the EPSRC Open Fellowship entitled “From Nanofilms to Clouds: A Modelling Approach to Drop Collisions and their Collective Behaviour” at the University of Warwick.

• 1x 2-year fixed-term Research Fellow (start date flexible)
• 1x 3-year fixed-term Research Fellow (start date flexible)

The Project
When two tiny drops approach each other, a nanometre-thin layer of gas or vapour is trapped between them. Whether this film collapses or not decides the outcome: the drops may bounce, merge, or fragment. That single event seems simple, but repeated billions of times it controls some of the most important multiphase flows on Earth, including in clouds, sprays and numerous advanced technologies.

Despite decades of study, predicting these outcomes remains a formidable challenge, which we have only recently began to understand (see our work in this area, here). Conventional simulation tools (CFD) fail at the nanoscale where these gas and vapour films dictate the physics. This Fellowship will:

• Develop new models that embed nanoscale effects into drop-collision dynamics.
• Create open-source simulation frameworks capable of predicting collision outcomes that can be validated by cutting-edge experiments in the Physics of Fluids (Twente).
• Cascade this understanding upwards, feeding collision maps into weather and spray models, in collaboration with partners including the Met Office, NCAR, and Syngenta.

Opportunity
If you’re excited by mathematical modelling, simulation, and multiphase flows — and want to work at the interface of physics, computation, and real-world applications — then this position is for you! Within this large-scale project, there is flexibility to tailor the research direction towards the interests and background of the candidate.

Flexible Working

• We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis (e.g. job share), despite the position being advertised as full-time.

About You
You should have (or be due to submit soon) a PhD, or have equivalent experience, and have expertise in mathematical and computational modelling, ideally with experience of fluid dynamics.

You can work effectively in a larger research group and have the ability to communicate its results to our partners and the wider research community.

You will have excellent communication and presentation skills, and be comfortable talking about your work with academics from other disciplines and non-specialists. You will have a record of research papers published in journals (or accepted to be published). You will have a high capacity for original research and creative thought, as well as the ability to manage your time effectively across multiple strands of research.

You will be working as part of an inclusive and flexible team, based in the Warwick Maths Institute, a world-leading mathematics department with a strong group working in applied and computational areas. You will have opportunities to travel in the UK and abroad, on research visits to collaborating groups/partners and to international conferences. You will be given both time and mentoring support to develop your own research profile and broader skills.

Full details of the duties and selection criteria for this role can be found in the vacancy advert on the University of Warwick's jobs pages. You will be routed to this when you click on the 'Apply' button.

CLOSING DEADLINE: Sunday, 25 January 2026 at 11:55pm (UK Time).

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