Research Associate/Fellow

Faculty of Engineering - Division of Materials, Mechanics and Structures

(Fixed-term)

£24,766 - £36,298 per annum, depending on skills and experience (minimum £27,854 with relevant PhD). Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance.

Applications are invited for a post-doctoral Research Fellow/Associate to work on a newly started project entitled “Underground coal gasification in operating mine areas of high vulnerability”, funded by the European Commission Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS). This is a collaborative project in which the University of Nottingham researchers work closely with various other UK and European project partners. The successful candidate will work within a team of researchers and be a member of the Nottingham Centre for Geomechanics (NCG). The NCG is a multi-disciplinary research institute that brings together expertise from the worlds of civil and mining engineering to solve all forms of soil and rock-related, engineering design and construction problems.

The objectives of this research project include both laboratory testing and numerical modelling. A programme of lab testing will be developed to assess the effects that the underground coal gasification (UCG) process has on rock, with particular interest on the effect of high temperatures. A variety of lab techniques will be used, including triaxial, Uniaxial Compressive Strenth (UCS), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Numerical modelling using FLAC-3D (and/or a suitable alternative) will be used to evaluate stability and ground deformation issues related to the UCG process.

The successful candidate will have established skills in numerical modelling as applied to mining or geotechnical engineering related underground excavations, ideally using FLAC 3D, and will also be able to design and conduct laboratory based test programmes to establish the physical properties of rock samples and excavation support materials appropriate for inclusion in the numerical models.

Candidates should have a first degree (or equivalent) in Civil or Mining engineering and ideally have been awarded a PhD (or equivalent) in Rock Mechanics or Geotechnical Engineering (or related discipline) or have submitted their thesis for examination. Experience in numerical modelling of mining and/or geotechnical systems as well as understanding of laboratory testing is desirable. Candidates should also have an interest in working in applied research. An essential attribute will be a strong drive to interact with industry and project partner from many parts of the EU. The successful candidate will have good presentation and report writing skills. A good publication record will be an advantage, but newly qualified PhD postgraduates or graduates with industrial experience are also encouraged to apply.

This full time post will be offered immediately on a fixed-term contract until 30 June 2016.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Alec Marshall, Tel: 0115 951 3908, or Email: alec.marshall@nottingham.ac.uk. Please note that applications sent directly to this Email address will not be accepted.

For more details and/or to apply on-line please click the 'Apply' button below. If you are unable to apply on-line please contact the Human Resources Department, tel: 0115 951 5206.

Please quote ref. ENG/14728

Closing Date: 1 January 2014

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