Ref Number
B04-07532
Professional Expertise
Research and Research Support
Department
UCL BEAMS (B04)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
See advert text
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
On site
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
05-Jul-2026
UCL is one of the UK’s premier universities and is regularly ranked in the world’s top 10. It is a world-class research and teaching institution based in central London whose staff and former students have included 20 Nobel Prize winners. Founded in 1826, it was the only university in England at that time which admitted students regardless of race or religion. UCL was also the first to admit women on equal terms with men. Today, UCL is an inspiring university in which to work and study and it continues to thrive on the diversity and creativity of its community.
The UCL Faculty of Engineering is the largest of its kind in the UK, ranked as the second most impactful engineering faculty in Europe and first for Research Strength in the Research Excellence Framework.
UCL Mechanical Engineering has been pioneering the development of engineering education, having taught the core discipline for over 170 years. We host internationally-leading research covering a broad range of activities and is spread over several sites. This provides a highly stimulating multidisciplinary environment for learning and for scientific research.
In the latest UK Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) 93% of our faculty’s research submitted was judged “world leading” or “internationally excellent”.
As a large multi-specialisation department the diversity of our research is one of our strengths, leading to many interdisciplinary research opportunities.
This post is part of InpiritingFuture (ERC Consolidator) project & the NIHR Programme Grant for Applied Health: AirSafety.
Our emphasis is on rapid clinical translation, with the research fellow concentrating on improving and maintaing current clinical trial experimental rigs consisting in aerosol generators and particle counter units. In addition, they will undertake aerosol dispersion and fluid mechanics measurements and provide required engineering support to clinicians, within and outside UCL campus and periodically at different hospitals across the UK. They will also be able to take initiatives to design experiments and expand/extend their research interests towards other fluid related areas. The research fellow will work in close synergy with fluid mechanics, materials, microbiology and nanotechnology experts, as well as clinicians to facilitate rapid translation of technology to clinic, and will have to periodically report formally and informally to the research group as well as to the programme steering committee.
The post is initially funded for two years and will be subject to standard probation and appraisal procedures. Please note that this is a Grade 7 post remunerating at £45,103 (Spine Point 31) including London Weighting allowance. We will accept applications from finishing PhD students at Grade 6B at a salary of £39,148. Note: Upon submission of proof of their PhD degree certificate, the candidate appointed at Grade 6B are moved to Grade 7, spine point 31.
The position is based in UCL and will require in-person, laboratory based work.
The post will underpin our activities in droplets and aerosol dispersion characteristics, particularly as it may relate to transmission of airborne disease in hospitals. Interested candidates are advised to consult our previous research publications around aerosol fluid mechanics and interfacial science. A background in basic thermofluid sciences and optical diagnostics will be main emphasis. Examples include investing flow characteristics, aerosol dispersion, development of novel atomisation and flow diagnostics and aerodynamics characteristics. The post-holder will need to have a deep knowledge of thermofluid sciences, rheology and laser based flow diagnostics.
The measurements will be complemented by computational fluid dynamics (CFD), developed by other project members, and fed into the development of an artificial intelligence platform to rapidly predict fluid mechanics of droplet dispersion and/or impact physics in hospital environments.
- The postholder will be part of a large team, including researchers, clinicians, facility and building management experts, infection control experts etc.
The successful candidate will be expected to:
Develop and harness aerosol generation & characterization rigs
- Design fluid mechanics experiments for aero-sampling, particle counting and laser based flow characterization experiments
- Perform image analysis, data acquisition/processing & interpretation
- Serve as optical diagnostics and laser-based thermofluids expert for the team and actively engage in related health and safety related responsibilities
- Perform materials & rheological characterization, data acquisition/processing & interpretation
- Actively initiate, partake and/or lead on public engagement activities. Candidates with no interest in such activities should need not apply.
- Provide engineering support in the clinical trial
- Be committed to contribute to periodical research progress reports and presentations as part of the project deliverables
- To contribute to the wider affiliated Centres and Institutes and be involved in seminar series, public engagement, tutorials and other activities
- Deliver publications, or other research outputs, in line with personal objectives agreed with line manager.
- Carry out any other duties (such as teaching) as requested by the line manager.
We are keen to accept qualifications for holders of PhDs (or candidates whose PhDs are near completion) in fluid mechanics and/or related areas. It is essential that you have an excellent track record of research in fluid mechanics and flow diagnostics technologies and good communication skills.
While not essential your application will be strengthened if you meet any of the following criteria:
- Expertise in fluid mechanics and experimental flow diagnostics technologies
- Notable publications in one or more areas ranging from fluid mechanics and mixing dynamics measurements to aerosol dispersions.
- Programming, and data acquisition and analyses using software tools such as Matlab, Python, Labview etc.
- Interest in contributing to the pertinent teaching (UG/PG) and PhD supervision activities
- Ability to support preparation of research proposals to secure external funding
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
- 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
- Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Immigration loan
- Relocation scheme for certain posts
- On-Site nursery
- On-site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.
These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
