Research Associate in Environmental Engineering (Imperial College London)

Job summary We are seeking a Research Associate to work on a project to investigate the flow of polymer support fluids in sand. This is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This fundamental research aims to advance understanding of the flow of these materials in sand via particle-scale experiments and simulation and thereby enable broader uptake of polymer support fluids in construction. The research will form part... Job listing information Reference ENG02714 Date posted 31 July 2023 Closing date 28 August 2023 Key information about the role Location South Kensington Campus - On site only Position type Full time, fixed term Salary £45,593 – £53,334 plus benefits Department Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Category Researcher / Non Clinical Researcher Job description Job summary We are seeking a Research Associate to work on a project to investigate the flow of polymer support fluids in sand. This is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This fundamental research aims to advance understanding of the flow of these materials in sand via particle-scale experiments and simulation and thereby enable broader uptake of polymer support fluids in construction. The research will form part of collaborative work involving the University of Cambridge, Oxford University and Prof. Stephan Jefferis. You will be expected to develop computational fluid mechanics simulations of flow of non-Newtonian fluids in the pore space using pore topologies obtained from DEM simulations and micro-computed tomography. These simulations will be used to provide detailed information on the flow within the pores. Upscaling to larger systems will then be achieved using pore network models. The research will build upon recent studies by Prof. Catherine O’Sullivan (Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Prof. Martin Blunt (Dept. of Earth Science and Engineering). Duties and responsibilities You will work to deliver two key work packages (WP1 and WP2) that form part of the project objectives. WP1 Computational Fluid Dynamics and micro-Computed Tomography Main tasks / deliverables: Exploit computational fluid dynamics to develop fully resolved simulations of the flow of non-Newtonian fluids in the pore space of sand. Complete discrete element method (DEM) simulations to generate idealized pore topologies for model development and initial parametric studies. Perform micro-Computed Tomography (microCT) to image pore space topologies for simulation of more physically realistic systems. Analyse the data generated to develop fundamental data on the fluid mechanics (e.g., distribution of stresses and strains within the fluid). Develop conductance models for implementation in pore network models. Generate data on fluid particle interaction (drag forces). Comparison of simulation data with experiments at Oxford and Cambridge. WP2 Pore network modelling Main tasks / deliverables: Develop a pore network model (PNM) that includes rheology of the non-Newtonian polymer fluids. Validate the PNM through comparison with experimental work at Oxford and Cambridge. Analyse progression of polymer in fully saturated and partially saturated conditions. Quantify the flow properties for a range of materials and fluid rheologies. Essential requirements Hold a PhD in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or a closely related field. Practical experience in either flow in porous media (computational fluid dynamics or pore network modelling) or micro–Computed Tomography as applied to sand or other geological materials or coupled discrete element method computational fluid dynamics (DEM-CFD) simulations. Knowledge of research methods and statistical procedures Programming ability, preferably python or MATLAB Willingness to work as part of a team and to be open-minded and cooperative. Further information As Imperial College staff, in addition to a competitive salary and package of attractive terms and conditions of service, we offer many more benefits to enjoy. This includes career development tailored to your ambitions, an attractive pension scheme, and generous family leave packages. We have a flexible, supportive work environment and encourage you to achieve and maintain a healthy work-life balance! This is a fixed term post for 3 years, with an estimated start date of January 2024. For informal enquiries about the post please contact Prof. Catherine O’Sullivan on cath.osullivan@imperial.ac.uk. Any queries regarding the application process should be directed to Briony Webb at b.webb@imperial.ac.uk. Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant. Further information is available within the job description. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds and disabilities. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the interview process and to perform crucial job functions, as well as other support including staff networks. Please contact us to request accommodation. The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/ The College believes that the use of animals in research is vital to improve human and animal health and welfare. Animals may only be used in research programmes where their use is shown to be necessary for developing new treatments and making medical advances. Imperial is committed to ensuring that, in cases where this research is deemed essential, all animals in the College’s care are treated with full respect, and that all staff involved with this work show due consideration at every level. http://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-integrity/animal-research/ We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation. We are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Disability Confident Leader and a Stonewall Diversity Champion. Documents Job description ENG02714.pdf If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Engineeroxy

Job summary

We are seeking a Research Associate to work on a project to investigate the flow of polymer support fluids in sand. This is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This fundamental research aims to advance understanding of the flow of these materials in sand via particle-scale experiments and simulation and thereby enable broader uptake of polymer support fluids in construction. The research will form part...

Job listing information

Reference ENG02714
Date posted 31 July 2023
Closing date 28 August 2023

Key information about the role

Location South Kensington Campus - On site only

Position type Full time, fixed term
Salary £45,593 – £53,334 plus benefits

Department Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Category Researcher / Non Clinical Researcher

Job description

Job summary

You will be expected to develop computational fluid mechanics simulations of flow of non-Newtonian fluids in the pore space using pore topologies obtained from DEM simulations and micro-computed tomography. These simulations will be used to provide detailed information on the flow within the pores. Upscaling to larger systems will then be achieved using pore network models. The research will build upon recent studies by Prof. Catherine O’Sullivan (Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Prof. Martin Blunt (Dept. of Earth Science and Engineering).

Duties and responsibilities

You will work to deliver two key work packages (WP1 and WP2) that form part of the project objectives.

WP1 Computational Fluid Dynamics and micro-Computed Tomography

Main tasks / deliverables:

Exploit computational fluid dynamics to develop fully resolved simulations of the flow of non-Newtonian fluids in the pore space of sand.
Complete discrete element method (DEM) simulations to generate idealized pore topologies for model development and initial parametric studies.
Perform micro-Computed Tomography (microCT) to image pore space topologies for simulation of more physically realistic systems.
Analyse the data generated to develop fundamental data on the fluid mechanics (e.g., distribution of stresses and strains within the fluid).
Develop conductance models for implementation in pore network models.
Generate data on fluid particle interaction (drag forces).
Comparison of simulation data with experiments at Oxford and Cambridge.

WP2 Pore network modelling

Main tasks / deliverables:

Develop a pore network model (PNM) that includes rheology of the non-Newtonian polymer fluids.
Validate the PNM through comparison with experimental work at Oxford and Cambridge.
Analyse progression of polymer in fully saturated and partially saturated conditions.
Quantify the flow properties for a range of materials and fluid rheologies.

Essential requirements

Hold a PhD in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or a closely related field.

Practical experience in either

flow in porous media (computational fluid dynamics or pore network modelling) or

micro–Computed Tomography as applied to sand or other geological materials or

coupled discrete element method computational fluid dynamics (DEM-CFD) simulations.

Knowledge of research methods and statistical procedures

Programming ability, preferably python or MATLAB

Willingness to work as part of a team and to be open-minded and cooperative.

Further information

As Imperial College staff, in addition to a competitive salary and package of attractive terms and conditions of service, we offer many more benefits to enjoy. This includes career development tailored to your ambitions, an attractive pension scheme, and generous family leave packages. We have a flexible, supportive work environment and encourage you to achieve and maintain a healthy work-life balance!

This is a fixed term post for 3 years, with an estimated start date of January 2024.

For informal enquiries about the post please contact Prof. Catherine O’Sullivan on cath.osullivan@imperial.ac.uk.

Any queries regarding the application process should be directed to Briony Webb at b.webb@imperial.ac.uk.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant.

Further information is available within the job description.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds and disabilities. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the interview process and to perform crucial job functions, as well as other support including staff networks. Please contact us to request accommodation.

The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/

The College believes that the use of animals in research is vital to improve human and animal health and welfare. Animals may only be used in research programmes where their use is shown to be necessary for developing new treatments and making medical advances. Imperial is committed to ensuring that, in cases where this research is deemed essential, all animals in the College’s care are treated with full respect, and that all staff involved with this work show due consideration at every level.

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-integrity/animal-research/

We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation. We are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Disability Confident Leader and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.