Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Turbine Aerothermal Research Closing date

United Kingdom

ENGINEERING SCIENCE

Careers

£39,424 - £47,779 per annum

Sep 11, 2026 12:00PM

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join the Oxford Turbine Research Facility group in the Department of Engineering Science. You will undertake experimental research into turbine rim‑sealing technologies, working on the Oxford Rotor Facility in collaboration with Rolls‑Royce.

The position is a full-time, fixed term post available for 1 year.

The research will build on the group’s previous work investigating rotationally and pressure‑driven ingestion and the unsteady flow phenomena within turbine rim‑seal cavities. You will contribute to the design, commissioning and operation of experiments on a bespoke high‑pressure rotating facility and use advanced measurement techniques to investigate the aero‑thermal and fluid‑dynamic behaviour of turbine rim seals.

You will take responsibility for planning and delivering experimental campaigns, analysing and interpreting data, and communicating results to academic and industrial collaborators. You will also contribute to publications and presentations and provide guidance to junior members of the research group.

You should hold, or be close to completing, a PhD/DPhil in engineering or a closely related discipline, together with relevant experimental research experience. You will have specialist knowledge relevant to high‑pressure rotating experimental facilities and/or turbo machinery aero‑thermal research.

Experience with advanced instrumentation would be particularly valuable, including high‑speed pressure measurement, gas‑concentration measurements, pressure‑sensitive paint or telemetry systems. You should have strong experimental problem‑solving and data‑analysis skills and be able to manage your own research activities. Excellent written and oral communication skills are also essential.

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 sector.
• 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.

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates who are under‑represented in academic posts in Oxford. The Department is committed to equality and valuing diversity and holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to promoting gender equality in academia. The University is a Living Wage Employer, holds an Athena Swan Silver Award, an HR Excellence in Research and a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award and is a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we seek to create a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through our EDI Committee, working groups and networks, for example , as well as a number of family friendly policies.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof Paul Beard: