Research Assistant or Associate in Mechanics of Advanced Composite Structures at Imperial College

Location:

South Kensington Campus (Hybrid)

Job number: ENG
04050

Faculties:
Faculty of Engineering

Departments:
Department of Aeronautics

Salary range: £45,399- £59,484 per annum

Contract type:
Full time, Fixed term

Posting End Date: 1 Nov 2026

You will contribute to a large industry-focused project developing the next generations of aero-engines. You will develop strong research, supervision, network, communication and project management skills. You will gain unique hands-on experience of failure analysis polymer composites with the world experts in fractography and failure modelling of polymer composites, and use our advanced characterisation facilities. You will get the opportunity to travel to International Scientific conferences and to Universities (Oxford and Bristol) and industrial (Rolls-Royce) partners.

Your work will focus on developing and using fractographic techniques for characterisation of coupons, elements and components made using advanced technologies, such as 3D polymer composites. Your research outcomes will underpin predictive model development, our understanding of how damage and failure progresses in these materials, and motivate improvements in the design of future aerostructures.

• Visual inspection, optical and scanning electron microscopy of composite coupons, elements and components using fractographic techniques.
• Deduces damage and failure processes in coupons and gleans the source and sequence of failures in elements and components.
• Develop new fractographic techniques to characterise failures in advanced and complex microstructures, such as 3D composites.
• Efficient communication of your fractographic findings to academic and industry partners to inform future design of aerostructures and the development of their Failure Investigation (FI) capability to support the introduction of the next generation of aeroengine components.

• Hold a PhD in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience.
• A recognised first class masters degree (or equivalent) in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Experience in characterisation methods such as non-destructive evaluation and optical and scanning electron microscopy.
• Practical experience, such as mechanical testing in composites, and a good knowledge of polymer composite failure mechanisms.
• An interest in working in a larger group, collaborating and working closely with other universities and industry.

• The opportunity to build a strong network with contacts at other universities (Oxford) and at Rolls-Royce.
• The opportunity to develop and apply fractographic techniques that could be deployed and used in practice by Rolls-Royce by their FI team.
• Ample scope for travelling to international conferences to disseminate the work done.
• Ample scope for publishing in leading journals.
• The opportunity to gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art optical and scanning electron microscopes.
• The opportunity to gain supervision and project management experience.
• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes).

If you require any further details on the role please contact:

• For the first position / task (translaminar fracture characterisation and simulation) - Silvestre Pinho –
• For the second position / task (Fractography) – Emile Greenhalgh –

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