Research Assistant/Associate in Advanced Hydrogen Jet Engines (Fixed Term)

Exceptional individuals sort to develop a new type of advanced hydrogen jet engine. We are seeking exceptional individuals with a range of skills (hydrogen, heat exchangers, turbomachinery, mechanical design, amongst others) to join our Rapid Technology Development Team in developing a new generation of advanced hydrogen jet engines for long-haul flights. The project is moving at incredible speed and requires people with a flexible mindset, who are prepared to work across the boundary of applied science and its emerging application in a transformative technology. The challenge is immense, but successful candidates can expect to play a central part in the transformation of flight.

It has recently been realised that when the fuel which powers flight is changed from kerosene to cryogenic hydrogen that it is possible to design a new type of jet engine which has the potential to reduce the energy required for flight by around 20% below the current most efficient jet engines. Inspired by Sir Frank Whittle's pioneering team that created the first jet engine, our mission is to assemble an elite group of innovators to design the first concept of this new type of engine.

This ambitious project - funded by Lord Sainsbury, Peter Bennett, and Rolls-Royce - has been specifically designed to bypass the constraints of traditional government and industry funding. The core team structure and funding has been specifically designed for speed with the potential to 'flip' the entire engine design in days rather than years. Leveraging the Whittle Lab's cutting-edge rapid technology development capabilities, the team has the ability to prototype sub-technologies in days or weeks, not months or years.

The post holder will be located in Whittle Laboratory in West Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK.

The appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD (or equivalent experience). Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.

Research Assistant: £32,296-£34,866 Research Associate: £36,924-£45,163

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 24 months in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above. 

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV), a covering letter and research publication list in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. 

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Professor Robert Miller (rjm76@cam.ac.uk) for queries of a technical nature related to the role, and Juliet Teather (jet63@cam.ac.uk) for queries related to the application process. 

Please quote reference NM44841 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Closing date: 07 February 2025

Advert information