Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Energy Landscapes for Bird Inspired Morphing Wings

The role

Applications are invited for a fully funded Morphing Aerospace Structures focused Post-Doctoral post to be appointed at the Research Associate or Senior Research Associate level, with a duration of 12 months.  This role is part of a project developing a series of bird-inspired flight technologies coalescing in the creation of “BIRB”, a Biologically Inspired Robotic Bird. This includes novel structural, aerodynamic, and actuation approaches which will work together to create a flexible, adaptive wing system capable of performing well across a wide range of operating conditions. The key research questions of the overall project involve the development of ultra-lightweight, articulating structural systems with integrated actuation and the development of highly deformable, lightweight, and passively stable aerodynamic covers.

Because the overall research question bridges the disciplines of structures, aerodynamics and actuation (amongst others), the discipline focus of this advert has purposely been left somewhat open, and we are happy to consider applicants with relevant skills and a track record of getting things done in any of these domains. Naturally, we are also particularly interested in researchers who are comfortable working across these disciplines.

Applicants from outside of academia are welcome, as our search is focused on finding candidates  with relevant capabilities, inventiveness, and a track record of developing, understanding and delivering novel, cleverly engineered designs.

The successful candidates will work directly with Dr. Woods and the rest of his research group,  including 2x current BIRB RAs and a visiting researcher, along with various undergraduate researchers. They will be based in the Bristol Composites Institute, which provides excellent research facilities for both experimental (composites manufacturing and testing, wind tunnels, mechanical characterisation) and numerical work (relevant software licenses and high performance computing facilities).

What will you be doing?

The successful applicant will join a team developing, analysing, building, and testing new technologies for light weight and adaptive wing structures, inspired by the capabilities of natural fliers. The overall project will therefore involve a range of techniques, including the design of novel aerostructures, numerical structural and aerodynamic analysis, mechanical characterisation, wind tunnel testing, and optimisation. No single candidate is expected to cover all of these disciplines, instead the best candidate will be chosen with a view towards ensuring the project team can together cover what’s needed.

You should apply if

You are a driven, independent, adaptive engineering with strong expertise relevant to the design of biologically inspired wings. You have a relevant Masters or PhD degree, and want to tackle a challenging, multi-disciplinary problem at the forefront of aerospace engineering.

Additional information

To find out more about what it's like to work in the Faculty of Engineering, and how the Faculty supports people to achieve their potential, please see our staff blog:

https://engineeringincludesme.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/

Contract type: Fixed term until 31/07/2025

For informal queries please contact:

Ben Woods, ben.k.s.woods@bristol.ac.uk

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