Research Assistant/Associate in Future Fan Design (Fixed Term)

Location: West Cambridge

A position exists, for a Research Assistant/Associate in the Whittle Laboratory to work on the design of future low pressure ratio fan systems for the next generation of UltraFan engines. The project is funded by Rolls-Royce plc and will involve collaboration with partner universities as well as with the fan design team within Rolls-Royce plc. The aim of the project is to develop new fan system designs with reduced fuel consumption that maintain acceptable operability. The design options to be explored could include modifications to the fan rotor tip loading, spanwise distributions of pressure ratio, camber, chord, blade lean and sweep. Changes to the stationary structures and fan outlet guide vane design will also be considered. The designs will be assessed using state-of-the-art computational methods and promising options will be tested within a high-speed experiment. 

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in turbomachinery design and computational analysis.

The post holder will be located in West Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK.

The key responsibilities and duties are research, interaction with industry and other researchers, planning, organisation and project supervision. 

The skills, qualifications and experience required to perform the role are:

1. A PhD or close to obtaining a PhD in turbomachinery aerodynamics or a related subject
2. Experience of applying advanced 3D CFD methods to complex flows and turbomachinery design
3. Ability to interact with industry contacts, other researchers and students, to present and discuss research and to publish research papers
4. Ability to organise own time and to independently drive research activities

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.

Salary Ranges:

Research Assistant: £33,002 - £35,608;

Research Associate: £37,694 - £46,049

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 24 months in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above.

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV), a covering letter and publication list in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact Juliet Teather (jet63@cam.ac.uk) / Amanda Norman (ajn46@cam.ac.uk).

Please quote reference NM50399 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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