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The Littauer Chair of Engineering Materials

University of Surrey - Mechanical Engineering Sciences

Location: Guildford
Salary: Competitive Salary
Hours: Full Time
Contract Type: Permanent
Placed On: 23rd September 2026
Closes: 4th October 2026
Job Ref: 010926-R

We are now seeking an outstanding academic leader to join us as The Littauer Chair of Engineering Materials, a prestigious endowed professorship offering an exceptional opportunity to shape and grow engineering materials research at Surrey.

This professorship is named in honour of Ernest and Deveda Littauer. Before a remarkable career in Materials Engineering, with Lockheed Martin in the US, Ernest studied BSc Metallurgy and PhD Electro-Metallurgy at Battersea College of Technology (Surrey’s predecessor) in the 1950s and 60s. The successful candidate will liaise with the trustees of the Littauer estate.

As an endowed chair, the post comes with an annual budget to support the post holder's research and impact activities, providing an outstanding platform from which to develop an ambitious and internationally recognised programme of research.

The Littauer Chair will play a central role in strengthening and expanding the Engineering Materials research within the School of Engineering contributing to Surrey's wider multidisciplinary Materials research agenda and enhancing our national and international profile. We are seeking an academic whose research demonstrates both strong synergy with, and complementarity to, existing strengths in Materials Science and Engineering at Surrey. Candidates with expertise in Materials Ageing, Performance and Lifetime Prediction are particularly encouraged to apply. A willingness to engage with Defence and Security partners, and experience of working with industry, would also be highly valued.  The role is open to someone with an excellent academic track record with any balance between experimental and modelling expertise.

The successful candidate will bring an established research portfolio and the vision and leadership to develop new collaborations, secure significant external funding and build a vibrant research community, helping to shape the future direction of materials research and education at Surrey. 

This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious and accomplished academic to lead and shape the next phase of Engineering Materials research at the University of Surrey.

About you

You will be:

  • An academic leader with national and international visibility with a strong publication track record.
  • A research leader with a considerable portfolio of ongoing research in the field of materials science and engineering, with a strong track record of securing significant research funding.
  • A leader who can inspire, mentor, shape and grow the wider materials community in the School of Engineering (and more widely across the Faculty and University).
  • An adept communicator with substantial experience of engaging with industrial partners and external stakeholders.

How to apply

Global executive search firm Perrett Laver has been appointed to support the University of Surrey in this appointment. If you would like to discuss this opportunity further or have any questions about the role, including requesting documentation in an alternative format, please contact Danielle Muller at Danielle.muller@perrettlaver.com

To find out more and apply please visit the Perrett Laver website where you can also request a full recruitment pack.

Interviews will likely be held in early November.

The University of Surrey is committed to providing an inclusive environment that offers equal opportunities for all.  We place great value on diversity and are seeking to increase the diversity within our community and particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups, including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities

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