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Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Gas Turbine Aerothermal Performance University of Oxford - Department of Engineering Science Oxford, United Kingdom

University of Oxford, Oxford

Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Gas Turbine Aerothermal Performance University of Oxford - Department of Engineering Science Oxford, United Kingdom

Salary not available. View on company website.

University of Oxford, Oxford

  • Full time
  • Temporary
  • Onsite working

Posted 1 day ago, 19 Oct | Get your application in today.

Closing date: Closing date not specified

job Ref: 74db83e0702747a5bf7570b6621699d2

Full Job Description

  • Aerodynamic and cooling design of next generation turbine blade designs for test in Oxford Turbine Research Facility in collaboration with Rolls-Royce plc;
  • Stress analysis and resonance assessment of rotating assembly (turbine blades and disc) for test in Oxford Turbine Research Facility in collaboration with Rolls-Royce plc;
  • Feasibility study for manufacture of next generation turbine blades, oversight of component manufacture in collaboration with advanced manufacturing partners;
  • Design, manufacture and commissioning of novel combustor simulator for test facility, including representative turbulence flow-field, involving: collaboration with CFD research team at Oxford Thermofluids Institute, low speed tunnel testing, mechanical design and system commissioning on Oxford Turbine Research Facility;
  • Assist with detailed design turbine test section and associated measurement systems in collaboration with other group members; design calculations will require familiarity with FEA calculations, CAD techniques, analytical calculations, good design practices, etc.;
  • Data analysis and reporting of on-test research programs;
  • Provide advice and support to DPhil students engaged in research using the facility;
  • Presentation of experimental results and other activities to collaborators and wider research community;
  • Write high quality technical documentation in support of, and for contributions to, research publications for journal publication and presentation at conferences;
  • Work with equipment manufacturers in further developing the facility capabilities.
    • Additional Tasks
  • Manage own academic research and administrative activities. This involves small scale project management, to co-ordinate multiple aspects of work to meet deadlines;
  • Adapt existing and develop new scientific techniques and experimental protocols;
  • Test hypotheses and analyse scientific data from a variety of sources, reviewing and refining working hypotheses as appropriate;
  • Contribute ideas for new research projects;
  • Develop ideas for generating research income, and present detailed research proposals to senior researchers;
  • Collaborate in the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles and occasionally present papers and posters;
  • Use specialist scientific equipment in a laboratory environment;
  • Act as a source of information and advice to other members of the group on scientific protocols and experimental techniques;
  • Represent the research group at external meetings/seminars, either with other members of the group or alone;
  • Carry out collaborative projects with colleagues in partner institutions, and research groups;
  • The researcher may have the opportunity to undertake ad-hoc paid teaching (this includes lecturing, demonstrating, small-group teaching, tutoring of undergraduates and graduate students and supervision of masters projects in collaboration with principal investigators). Permission must be sought in advance for each opportunity and the total must not exceed 4 hours a week;
  • Any other duties appropriate with the role.
    • This job description should be viewed as a guide to the role and is not intended as a definitive list of duties. It may be reviewed in light of changing circumstances with consultation with the post holder.Pre-employment screening All offers of employment are made subject to standard pre-employment screening, as applicable to the post. If you are offered the post, you will be asked to provide proof of your right-to-work, your identity, and we will contact the referees you have nominated. You will also be asked to complete a health declaration (so that you can tell us about any health conditions or disabilities so that we can discuss appropriate adjustments with you), and a declaration of any unspent criminal convictions. We advise all applicants to read the candidate notes on the University's pre-employment screening procedures, found at: www.ox.ac.uk/about/jobs/preemploymentscreening/., We aim to admit 170-180 undergraduates per year to take a 4-year course leading to the MEng degree in Engineering Science. The course is accredited at MEng level by the major engineering institutions. The syllabus has a common core extending through the first two years. Specialist options are introduced in the third year, and the fourth year includes further specialist material and a major project.

    The project will require: a proven experience in aerothermal experiments and/or turbine component design; excellent knowledge of non-dimensional aerodynamic scaling, general turbine aerodynamics and heat transfer processes; a high proficiency with MATLAB. Experience with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and mesh generation packages (for example, HYDRA, BOXER, CFX, ANSYS); CAD and FEA packages (for example, Autodesk Inventor and SolidWorks) to create engineering drawings and reports prior to component certification testing is also highly desirable. As well as the key requirements above, the position requires a self-motivated and driven individual who is also a quick learner, as a number of Rolls-Royce plc in-house design methods and models will need to be used. Good time management, communication, organisation and ability to work effectively in a team and individually will also be essential to deliver the project and to successfully collaborate with numerous groups within Rolls-Royce plc and the university.,
  • Hold a relevant PhD/DPhil, (or near completion) together with relevant experience;
  • Possess sufficient specialist knowledge in aerothermal experiments, turbine component design, non-dimensional aerodynamic scaling, general turbine aerodynamics and heat transfer processes to work within established research programmes;
  • High proficiency in data analysis and design using tools such as MATLAB, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software packages (for example: HYDRA, BOXER, CFX, ANSYS), FEA and CAD software packages (for example: Solidworks, Autodesk Inventor);
  • Ability to independently manage own academic research and associated activities;
  • Previous experience of contributing to publications/presentations;
  • Ability to contribute ideas for new research projects and research income generation;
  • Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meetings.
  • please note that 'near completion' means that you must have submitted your PhD thesis., Experience of independently managing a discrete area of a research project;
  • Experience of actively collaborating in the development of research articles for publication;
  • High degree of self-motivation and ability to learn quickly;
  • Experience of measurement techniques such as: pneumatic and unsteady pressures, temperature using thermocouples and infrared thermography measurements, pressure sensitive paints, and other optical techniques;
  • Strong work ethic and close attention to detail;
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team with good time management skills.

    The Oxford Thermofluids Institute at the Department of Engineering Science, Oxford University has a strong and long-standing research collaboration with Rolls-Royce plc, one of the global leaders in jet-engine design and manufacture.
    • Over the past few years, the Institute has significantly expanded its high TRL (test readiness level) capability, with the Oxford Turbine Research Facility (OTRF) being central in this strategy. For decades, the OTRF was operated as a short test duration facility with a long-proven track record and extensive capability to deliver world-leading aerodynamic and heat transfer measurements. Previously known as the Turbine Test Facility (TTF) at QinetiQ, the facility was relocated to the University of Oxford in 2011. Following a significant infrastructure upgrade to the facility over 2019-2023, the facility run time has been increased from from 0.5s to 60s, enabling metal effectiveness (non-dimensional metal surface temperature) and cooling effectiveness measurements at non-dimensional engine conditions. Measurements are performed using a novel infrared measurement system capable of acquiring full surface temperature maps of any high-pressure turbine rotor blade under test. An innovative approach to turbine blade manufacture, involving rapid and agile metal sintering, has also been developed to allow flexible manufacture of novel turbine blade variants suitable for scaled testing in the OTRF. Together these advances facilitate high TRL aerothermal testing of multiple component designs in a single rotor assembly, and ultimately, ranking of multiple cooling technologies on rotating turbine components prior to a multi-million-pound engine test by an engine provider, such as Rolls-Royce. Recent research projects have included studies of effusion cooling on the rotor casing, turbine blade squealer tip design, cooled rotor blade heat transfer, combustor-turbine interactions with lean burn and entropy noise generation in the turbine. Projects have been funded by Rolls- Royce plc, Innovate UK, the EU Framework programmes and GKN Aerospace. A review of the last decade of research in the Oxford Turbine Research Facility was recently presented by Falsetti et al. 2022. A copy of this paper can be provided on request if need be. Falsetti, C., Beard, P., Cardwell, D., & Chana, K. (2022). A Review of High-Speed Rotating HP Turbine Heat Transfer and Cooling Studies Over the Last Decade in the Oxford Turbine Research Facility. GT2022-81945. Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2022, Rotterdam. doi.org/10.1115/ GT2022-81945. Based at the Oxford Thermofluids Laboratory (Osney Mead, Oxford) the successful candidate will be responsible (as part of the OTRF team) for the aerothermal design, manufacture and testing of multiple cooled turbine components for the testing in the upgraded test facility. This will involve working closely with experts at Rolls-Royce plc in Derby. During the early stages of the design, it is expected that the post holder would spend approximately 25% of their time at Rolls-Royce. Subsistence for travel, lodging and daily costs will covered by the project., Welcome to the University of Oxford. We aim to lead the world in research and education for the benefit of society both in the UK and globally. Oxford's researchers engage with academic, commercial and cultural partners across the world to stimulate high-quality research and enable innovation through a broad range of social, policy and economic impacts. We believe our strengths lie both in empowering individuals and teams to address fundamental questions of global significance, while providing all our staff with a welcoming and inclusive workplace that enables everyone to develop and do their best work. Recognising that diversity is our strength, vital for innovation and creativity, we aspire to build a truly diverse community which values and respects every individual's unique contribution. While we have long traditions of scholarship, we are also forward-looking, creative and cutting- edge. Oxford is one of Europe's most entrepreneurial universities and we rank first in the UK for university spin-outs, and in recent years we have spun out 15-20 new companies every year. We are also recognised as leaders in support for social enterprise. Join us and you will find a unique, democratic and international community, a great range of staff benefits and access to a vibrant array of cultural activities in the beautiful city of Oxford., The Department is ranked fifth in the world, and the top European University, in the 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings for Engineering & Technology. Further information about the Department is available at www.eng.ox.ac.uk., The Mathematical, Physical, and Life Sciences (MPLS) Division is one of the four academic divisions of the University. In the results of the six-yearly UK-wide assessment of university research, REF2014, the MPLS division received the highest overall grade point average (GPA) and the highest GPA for outputs. We received the highest proportion of 4
  • outputs, and the highest proportion of 4 activity overall. More than 50 per cent of MPLS activity was assessed as world leading.
    • The MPLS Division's 10 departments and 3 interdisciplinary units span the full spectrum of the mathematical, computational, physical, engineering and life sciences, and undertake both fundamental research and cutting-edge applied work. Our research addresses major societal and technological challenges and is increasingly focused on key interdisciplinary issues. MPLS is proud to be the home of some of the most creative and innovative scientific thinkers and leaders working in academe. We have a strong tradition of attracting and nurturing the very best early career researchers who regularly secure prestigious fellowships. We have around 6,000 students and play a major role in training the next generation of leading scientists. Oxford's international reputation for excellence in teaching is reflected in its position at the top of the major league tables and subject assessments., The University operates an Employer Justified Retirement Age (EJRA) for very senior research posts at grade RSIV/D35 and clinical equivalents E62 and E82, which with effect from 1 October 2023 will be 30 September before the 70^th birthday. The justification for this is explained at: https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/the-ejra. For existing employees on these grades, any employment beyond the retirement age is subject to approval through the procedures: https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/the-ejra. There is no normal or fixed age at which staff in posts at other grades have to retire. Staff at these grades may elect to retire in accordance with the rules of the applicable pension scheme, as may be amended from time to time., Membership of the University Club is free for all University staff. The University Club offers social, sporting, and hospitality facilities. Staff can also use the University Sports Centre on Iffley Road at discounted rates, including a fitness centre, powerlifting room, and swimming pool. See www.club.ox.ac.uk and https://www.sport.ox.ac.uk/., With one of the most generous family leave schemes in the Higher Education sector, and a range of flexible working options, Oxford aims to be a family-friendly employer. We also subscribe to the Work+Family Space, a service that provides practical advice and support for employees who have caring responsibilities. The service offers a free telephone advice line, and the ability to book emergency back-up care for children, adult dependents and elderly relatives. See https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/my-family-care. The University has excellent childcare services, including five University nurseries as well as University-supported places at many other private nurseries., The University of Oxford Newcomers' Club is an organisation run by volunteers that aims to assist the partners of new staff settle into Oxford, and provides them with an opportunity to meet people and make connections in the local area. See www.newcomers.ox.ac.uk.

    Research in the Department is particularly strong. We have approximately 600 research students and about 250 postdoctoral researchers. Direct funding of research grants and contracts, from a variety of sources, amounts to an annual turnover of approximately £70m. The results of the seven-yearly UK-wide assessment of university research, REF2021, published on 12^th May 2022, demonstrate that the University of Oxford made the highest volume of world-leading research submissions. The Department of Engineering Science had 71% of submissions which met the requirements for the highest grading of 4
  • (research that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance, and rigour).
    • Research activities fall into 8 broad headings, though there is much overlapping in practice: Information Engineering (Robotics, Computer Vision and Machine Learning); Control; Thermofluids; Materials and Mechanics; Civil and Offshore; Electrical and Optoelectronic; Chemical and Process; and Biomedical. The Department of Engineering Science holds a bronze Athena Swan award to recognise advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all., University employees enjoy 38 days' paid holiday, generous pension schemes, travel discounts, and a variety of professional development opportunities. Our range of other employee benefits and discounts also includes free entry to the Botanic Gardens and University colleges, and discounts at University museums. See https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/staff-benefits.