Research Assistant - Marie Curie

College of Engineering, Design & Physical Sciences

Full Time

22/09/2026

30/10/2026

5221

• Job Description (Word , 62.53kb)

Research Assistant – Marie Curie, Industrial Heat Pump Compressor Design - Gas Flow Path – 16995

Department of Engineering/College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences

Brunel University London, Uxbridge Campus

£50,508 per annum inclusive of London Allowance - without any pension contributions

Full-time

Fixed-term for 36 months

Brunel University London was established in 1966 and is a leading multidisciplinary research-intensive technology university. For more information please visit:

The Department of Engineering delivers programmes in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering. It has a wide portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate taught and research programmes and is active in delivering transnational education. The department has a thriving research culture with substantial research facilities supporting the delivery of world leading impactful research.

We are seeking to appoint a research assistant who will undertake research towards a PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering. The project objectives are to develop models for the design and analysis of turbo-compressors suitable for industrial high temperature heat pumps (IHTHPs). The focus will be on the gas flow path considering non-ideal gas behaviour and multi-stage arrangements. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools will be used for validation.

Candidates must hold at least a first degree or a Master-degree in Mechanical Engineering or a relevant subject.

This project is part of a Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) ITN aiming to train 15 PhD candidates within the newly funded project:
Industrial Decarbonisation Using Innovative Low-Grade Heat Upgrade (Heat Minds). The overall aim of the work programme is to undertake cutting-edge multidisciplinary research and development to make a step change in the understanding of Industrial High Temperature Heat Pump technology. The successful candidate will start on 1 April 2027.

Candidates must not have worked or studied in the UK in the last three years.

• Completed application form
• CV Europass ( https://europa.eu/europass/en/create-europass-cv )
• Analysis of the challenges associated with industrial heat decarbonisation and the potential of innovative IHTHPs to address these challenges, including the needs for technology development (max 3 pages)
• Short video (less than 2min): why I should be selected for the position. The candidates should address some of the following questions:
  • D1:
    Why did you decide to apply?
  • D2:
    What do you expect/want to gain from an MSCA programme?
  • D3:
    How do you think you can add value to an MSCA programme?
  • D4:
    Your strengths and weaknesses.
  • D5:
    Describe a time when you had to deliver a challenging project. What was your role and what was the outcome?
  • D6:
    Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
  • D7:
    Why should you be selected for the position?

Interviews will take place in the first two weeks of November 2026.

If you have any technical issues please contact us at:

Brunel University London wishes to promote an inclusive and diverse workforce and create a culture that values the contribution of all backgrounds and communities. All employees will be recruited, selected and appointed in line with our equality and diversity policy.