Research Associate in Superconducting Power Devices for Electric Aircraft

About the role

We are seeking an exceptional Research Associate to work on superconducting power devices for net-zero aviation. You will be a central member of the team and the objective is to lead the design of superconducting power devices for electric aircraft including superconducting fault current limiters, superconducting cables, and superconducting rotating machines. 

This is an exciting opportunity in the electrification of aviation, requiring you to communicate and work collaboratively with the academic and industrial partners. You will be expected to assist in the delivery of the project work packages, undertaking the research activity under the guidance of the principal investigator.

You will focus on superconducting power devices and cryogenic cooling system for electric aircraft application.

This position is offered on a full time, fixed term basis until 1^st March 2026.

About you

Our ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD (or equivalent) in Electrical Engineering or relevant areas.
• Prior expertise in design of large-scale superconducting power devices
• Skills for the finite element modelling and experimental characterization of superconducting power devices

Knowledge of cryogenic cooling system and thermal design is a plus.

A lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6) with comparable reduction in responsibilities and amendment in job title to Research Assistant, if a suitable applicant cannot be found to fill the Grade 7 position. Applicants will need to be within six months of their course completion date and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD has been awarded.

Further information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

• Professor Xiaoze Pei at xp290@bath.ac.uk
• Dr Vincent Zeng at xz2478@bath.ac.uk

As a member of Research Staff at the University of Bath, you will be encouraged to take up a minimum of 10 days professional development pro rata per year.

What we can offer you:

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students, so we encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We are very proud to be an autism friendly university and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.

• Free counselling services through Health Assured
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym
• Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees
• Staff discount on language courses
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes
• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning and more
• Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
• Local discounts and more
• A family-friendly workplace 
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• Relocation allowance
• Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses

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