Associate Professor/ Professor in Materials Engineering

The University of Leicester is seeking to appoint a Professor or Associate Professor in Materials Engineering to provide strategic research leadership in an area critical to the future of advanced engineering, sustainable energy systems and space technologies. This appointment reflects the University’s commitment to strengthening research leadership and international impact, positioning Leicester as a leading centre for materials research that supports national priorities in space, net zero and industrial innovation.

The successful candidate will establish and lead a distinctive programme of world-leading research in Materials Engineering, contributing to and connecting research activity across the School of Engineering’s major research groups, including Aerospace, Green Energy and Transportation, Digital Manufacturing and Management, and Mechanics of Materials. The role will play a key part in shaping the School’s long-term research strategy and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering and the wider University. You will be joining a welcoming community of colleagues best expressed in our mission statement “Together building an inclusive and inspiring teaching and research community, to create the school of choice for world leading engineers and future innovators.”

A central focus of the role will be advancing materials research aligned with major UK strategic priorities. This includes contributing to Space Systems and Engineering, helping to anchor Leicester’s global reputation in space technologies through close links with Space Park Leicester and the University’s strong heritage in space instrumentation and engineering. The role will also support research in Fusion and Sustainable Energy Futures, developing materials, diagnostics and modelling approaches for extreme environments relevant to fusion energy systems and the UK’s transition to net zero.

About You

To be successful in the role of Associate Professor, you will hold a PhD in a relevant subject area and evidence of an emergent track record of sustained achievement in internationally leading research, as well as an emergent record of excellence in research and enterprise leadership.

To be successful in the role of Professor, in addition to the above, you will already have an established track record of sustained achievement in internationally leading research in terms of originality, significance and rigour, that are consistent with the School of Engineering.

Additional Information

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be made to Professor Ljiljana Marjanovic-Halburd, Head of the School of Engineering at lmh66@leicester.ac.uk.

We anticipate that interviews will take place in May 2026.

The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people’s lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you’ll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.

 As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive.

 We’re committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

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