FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION 1. Job Information Lloyd’s Register Foundation Research Associate in Materials Engineering Grade: 7 Salary Range: £30,438 - £38,517 per annum Mode: Full Time Fixed Term for 36 months. Ref No: REQ003129 Post Title: The role of Senior Research Assistant typically includes a range of duties and responsibilities from those itemised below, depending on the requirements of the post. Additionally, any specific requirements of this post are summarised within the section headed “Job Purpose”. 2. Job Description .1 Job Purpose This three-year post, based in the Faculty Research Centre in Manufacturing and Materials Engineering, will support the new Lloyd’s Register Foundation funded International Joint Research Centre in Nuclear Safety, which is led by Lancaster University, partnering with Coventry University, University of Tennessee, and Harbin Engineering University. The focus of the post is in the application of advanced methods to the study of materials for nuclear power plant, as well as having a role in supporting project PhD students at Coventry, and networking across the activity undertaken at the project partners. The successful candidate will work across the work packages of the programme, and take a lead on research relevant to materials performance, including residual stress analysis, damage development, novel materials; and irradiation damage. The candidate will have a day-to-day role in supervising the PhD students working on the programme, and in networking to the other project partners for joint work packages. .2 Duties and Responsibilities 1. Plan and manage own research activity, including  Designing, conducting and recording outcomes of experiments  Designing and managing equipment, rig-design, software, instrumentation.  Designing and conducting literature and database searches and preparing reviews of findings.  Designing and/or undertaking data coding.  Ensuring data quality assurance procedures.  Analysis, interpretation and evaluation of research outcomes. 2. Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with the support and supervision of a Principal Investigator on larger projects. Undertake individual and collaborative research projects. 3. Identify new areas for research, develop new research approaches, apply innovative research methods and extend the research portfolio. 4. Prepare proposals and applications to external bodies, e.g. for funding and contractual purposes. 5. Plan and manage small scale research activities using resources, laboratories and workshops as appropriate. 6. Communicate complex research information using a range of methods and media, including to the public where appropriate. This may include material of a specialist or highly technical nature. 7. Publish as principal author or co-author and disseminate in appropriate way the results and outcomes of research projects/programmes e.g. journals, conferences. 8. Build internal and external contacts, participate in internal networks for the exchange of information and form relationships for future collaboration. Join external networks to share information and identify potential sources of funds. 9. Undertake supervision of staff and/or students. 10. Continually update knowledge and understanding in the discipline and develop new research techniques and approaches to enable contribution within established research programmes. 11. Contribute to teaching and learning programmes as appropriate, using research findings to inform curriculum development. 12. Support assessment of student knowledge and supervision of projects; assist in the development of student research skills. 13. Such other duties as may be allocated by the Head of Department from time to time. 3. PERSON SPECIFICATION – Research Associate ATTRIBUTES Education/ Qualifications ESSENTIAL   Experience (Paid and Unpaid)  PhD in a relevant discipline. Or relevant discipline or professional experience equivalent to a higher degree. Experience in, advanced measurement techniques including two or more of the following: neutron diffraction, synchrotron xray diffraction, electron microscopy, tomography and EBSD. ADVANTAGEOUS     Experience of nondestructive examination of materials, including state monitoring methods and magnetic techniques Experience of the measurement of residual stresses. Experience of work on irradiation studies of materials Prior research with relevance to methods or topics in nuclear materials.   Research/Publications Special Interests   Job-related skills/ Aptitudes    Interpersonal Skills      Other Requirements   A record of contributing to publications in appropriate refereed conferences and journals. Up to date knowledge and understanding of relevant discipline Good formal presentation skills. Project management skills. IT skills to include familiarity with Microsoft office suite and internet/ e mail. Literature search skills including electronic databases. Team working, informal and formal presentations, negotiation, persuasion, dealing with conflict, marketing. Highly self motivated and organised, flexible, independent and creative thinker and able to tolerate working with different styles. Flexible approach to work. Presents a professional image to a range of external client groups/ stakeholders. Ability to persuade and influence others May be required to work outside of normal 8.30 am to 5.00 pm hours including weekends, on occasion. Willingness to travel to other organisations.   Support of teaching and postgraduate project supervision in a Higher Education Institution. Participated in successful applications for research funding. Research project management skills. Use of FEA and neural network modelling software.