DMEx Innovation Fellow

School/Department:
Chemical, Materials & Biological Engineering

Work Arrangement:
Full Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type:
Fixed-term

Closing Date: 18/10/2026

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world‑class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

The School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering seeks to appoint a DMEx Innovation Fellow to support an established programme of work funded by the Defence Materials Centre of Excellence (  ). This role is fully funded for the duration of the contract.

This unique opportunity recognises the important role that Materials Engineering plays in supporting the lifecycle of key assets and enhancing sovereign capability. Leading activities that pull together technical findings from multiple programmes across the DMEx portfolio, you will act as a central hub to take advantage of the latest developments in Materials 4.0, Passporting and Digital Twining. The primary focus of this programme is metallic components for the Air Domain.

You will provide thought leadership and interact with key Sheffield academics, Government Scientists and Industrial Partners to support the primary themes of the Air Domain of DMEx:

• Weight and Cost reduction
• Reach and Persistence

We welcome applications from strong candidates working in complementary and closely related areas of Aerospace and Materials Engineering, where there is a clear fit with the School’s existing strengths and strategic priorities.

Applications will be assessed on a one page proposal to be submitted with your application which will be used in the initial short‑listing stage.

A requirement of this role is the successful completion of security screening.

Contribute fully as a researcher and leader, fulfilling the appropriate requirements of the University’s Academic Career Pathway Framework (ACP).

Disseminate research findings through, for example high-quality publications and conference presentations. Ensure that at least one item in a rolling three-year period is judged through peer review as being internationally excellent or better in terms of originality, significance and rigour.

Conduct a programme of high-quality personal research by identifying and securing varied sources of funding for follow on work. Appropriate levels of research income are determined by the disciplinary or sub disciplinary norms for your department.

Manage or co‑manage external research funding over a period of grants.

Attract high-quality research staff to support the delivery of research. Provide effective leadership and line management to research staff, including a proactive approach to training and development.

Attract high-quality research students and provide them with effective supervision.

Ensure research impact through activities that demonstrate an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment, or quality of life beyond academia. Activity that supports this includes undertaking meaningful public engagement activity, patent applications, consultancy contracts for institutional benefit, two‑way engagement with policy makers in your own research area, etc.

Contribute to, and build cross‑research group activity.

Actively…