Research Fellow; BCC-Superalloys; School of Metallurgy and Materials Grade 7

Job Description
Position Details

School of Metallurgy and Materials

Location:

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 7, salary £38,784.

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to June 2028

Closing date: 22nd September 2026

The University of Birmingham is seeking a Research Fellow to create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a range of activities within the Materials for Extremes research group. The Materials for Extremes research group seeks to discover fundamentally new alloys for extreme environments across nuclear fusion/fission reactors, aerospace gas turbines and concentrated solar power. This involves: (1) Alloy Design, supported by computation methods;

(2) Production through arc melting, powder metallurgy or additive manufacturing; (3) Characterisation using advanced electron microscopy (SEM, EBSD, TEM), APT and x-ray diffraction methods; (4) Mechanical Testing and failure investigation, including macro-, micro- & in-situ testing, (5) Irradiation damage studies, using University of Birmingham's proton/neutron facilities. The postholder will work on "bcc-superalloys" ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). to achieve top scientific outputs (e.g. Ti  

W  Fe  with a focus on developing novel alloys with improved ductility and irradiation damage resilience. They will be closely supported in their own development, for example: learning new scientific skills, making funding applications & Fellowships, supervision/teaching opportunities, training courses, conferences, collaborative networks & academic/industrial secondments - UK and internationally. The postholder will work within the specified research project, operating within these areas of specialism: alloy design & development, characterisation, mechanical & irradiation testing.

They will analyse and interpret research findings and results, contribute to generating funding and contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and public understanding of the discipline.

• Work within specified research grant:
  Bcc-superalloys:
  Engineering Resilience to Extreme Environments.
• Operate within an area of specialism (can include alloy design & modelling - CALPHAD/DFT/ICME, experimental alloy production, advanced characterisation (SEM, EBSD, TEM, STEM, APT, diffraction), and/or testing (mechanical / environmental)
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results
• Publish research in top journal articles, and present at international conferences
• Contribute to writing bids and generating funding
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Contribute to teaching activities for undergraduate/graduate students if required.
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Present…