Research Fellow in Fluid Mechanics - Aerosol Droplets Dispersion and Impact

About us

UCL is one of the UK’s premier universities and is regularly ranked in the world’s top 10. UCL Mechanical Engineering host internationally-leading research covering a broad range of activities and is spread over several sites. This provides a highly stimulating multidisciplinary environment for learning and for scientific research. In the latest UK Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) 93% of our faculty’s research submitted was judged “world leading” or “internationally excellent”.

This post is part of the InspiringFuture (ERC Consolidator) project and benefits from direct collaborations with a clinical team led by Professor Laurence Lovat. Our emphasis is on rapid clinical translation, with the research fellow concentrating on improving current experimental rig consisting of a humanoid aerosol generator, expanding its capabilities to simulate variety of human breathing and exhalation patterns. In addition, they will undertake aerosol dispersion and fluid mechanics measurements, within and outside UCL campus and periodically at different hospitals across the UK. They will also take initiatives to design experiments.

The research fellow will work in close synergy with fluid mechanics, materials, microbiology and nanotechnology experts, as well as clinicians to facilitate rapid translation of technology to clinic. The post is initially funded for two years and will be subject to standard probation and appraisal procedures.

About the role

The post will underpin our activities in experimental measurements focusing on aerosol droplet dispersion and impact. We will be undertaking measurements involving air-sampling, aerodynamic particle counting and laser-based diagnostics technologies. The measurements will be performed both in laboratory and clinical settings, under different operating conditions and controlled environments (environmental chambers). The measurements will be complemented by computational fluid dynamics (CFD), developed by other project members, and fed into the development of an artificial intelligence platform to rapidly predict fluid mechanics of droplet dispersion and/or impact physics in hospital environments. Please follow the link to our jobs board for more detail.

About you

We are keen to accept qualifications for holders of PhDs (or PhDs near completion) in fluid mechanics and/or related areas. It is essential that you have an excellent track record of research in fluid mechanics and flow diagnostics technologies. While not essential your application will be strengthened by any one of the following:

• Expertise in fluid mechanics and experimental flow diagnostics technologies
• Notable publications in fluid mechanics and/or mixing dynamics measurements or aerosol dispersion.
• Programming, and data acquisition and analyses using software tools such as Matlab, Python, Labview etc.
• Interest in contributing to the pertinent teaching (UG/PG) and PhD supervision activities
• Ability to support preparation of research proposals to secure external funding

Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at the Research Assistant Grade 6B (salary £37,332 - £39,980 per annum).

What we offer

Please visit our Rewards and Benefits page to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion to find out more.

Advert information