Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Ice Deposition
Salary
£38,674 - £46,913 per annum
Closing date
Sep 05, 2025 12:00PM
Description
About the roleWe are seeking a full-time Post Doctoral Research Assistant to join the Oxford Particles Research Group at the Department of Engineering Science (based at the Osney Thermofluids Institute). The position is fixed term for 36 months and will provide opportunities to work on aircraft icing modelling and experimental campaigns.
Ice crystal icing is one of the least well characterised risks to aircraft engines. The Particles Research Group works on icing problems closely with industrial partners, is currently developing a new altitude icing wind tunnel and entering a new EPSRC programme grant with partners across the UK to facilitate the use of hydrogen for aviation, and in particular the icing vulnerability of heat exchangers and parts of the airframe. You will work to generate high fidelity models of ice crystal icing accretion and shedding, verifying tools using the wealth of unique experimental validation data generated by researchers at the Oxford Thermofluids Institute. The tools will be applied to real turbomachinery components and subsystems required to facilitate the use of hydrogen in future aircraft. You will work closely with collaborators from partner academic institutions in the programme grant and with supporting industrial partners.
About you
You should possess a university PhD degree in mechanical engineering or a similar discipline, preferably with experience of mixed phase numerical or analytical flow modelling for icing. Experience conducting and analysing experimental data is desirable. You should have a record of academic publications in the field and be able to work well within a large team of experienced researcher's, students, technical and support staff.
What we offer
At the university of Oxford your happiness and wellbeing at work is important to us. We have a number of generous benefits including 38 days' annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays and fixed closure days), generous pension schemes and free access to the Oxford colleges. The other benefits include:
- Travel - We have several travel schemes available for staff which promote sustainable modes of transport.
- Family friendly benefits - We aim to be a family-friendly employer and offer a range of flexible working options. We have some of the most generous family leave provision in the Higher Education.
- Sports – We have several schemes to help you stay fit and healthy, including discounted membership of the university sports centre on the Iffley Road
- Personal and professional development - We actively encourage all staff to participate in planning their personal and professional development and provide a broad range of opportunities to enable them to reach their full potential.
- University club - All staff are entitled to free membership of the University Club. It offers social and hospitality facilities, a small gym and exercise classes.
- Staff discounts - University staff can access shopping discounts in several ways; by purchasing a TOTUM card, by showing an employee pass in selected local stores, or online by using any of the listed discount codes
- Childcare services - We offer excellent childcare services including five University nurseries as well as University-supported places at other local private nurseries.
How to apply
Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-recruitment system and should include the covering letter/supporting statement (describing how you meet the criteria), a CV, and names of two academic references.
The position is a full-time fixed term post available for 36 months.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Friday 05 September 2025.
Informal enquiries may be addressed to Associate Professor David Gillespie: david.gillespie@eng.ox.ac.uk
For more information about working at the Department, see
www.eng.ox.ac.uk/about/work-with-us/
The University of Oxford is committed to equality and valuing diversity. All applicants will be judged on merit, according to the selection criteria.
The Department holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to promoting women in Science, Engineering and Technology.
Contact name
Prof David Gillespie
Contact email
david.gillespie@eng.ox.ac.uk
The job description is available via the Apply Now button