Research jobs in United Kingdom

UCL Mechanical Engineering has been pioneering the development of engineering education, having taught the core discipline for over 170 years.

Today our students, some 1200 students from over 70 countries, are taught core engineering disciplines and supervised in individual and group research projects by academics that are recognised research world-leaders in their fields.

In the latest UK Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) 93% of our faculty’s research submitted was judged “world leading” or “internationally excellent”.

The UCL Mechanical Engineering is a large multi-specialisation department. The diversity of our research is one of our strengths, leading to many interdisciplinary research opportunities. Our main research groups are operated by 45 academic staff in 4 key research areas: Biomechanical, Energy and Environment, Marine and Materials, Structures and Manufacturing.

The department has seen remarkable growth with the addition of 70 academic and teaching staff since 2020. Notably we have expanded to UCL East in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and collaboration with the Chemistry, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering departments we launched Advanced Propulsion and Manufacturing Futures labs which are dedicated to multidisciplinary research.

For the post, we seek an excellent candidate who can spearhead the interdisciplinary research and teaching further, leading the department to the next phase in its excellent academic history.

The Biomechanical Engineering Group

The post we are seeking to fill is within the Biomechanical Engineering Group.

With access to high-quality dedicated research laboratories and first-class computational biomechanical analysis tools, the group maintains strong and direct engagement with medical clinicians and the biomedical industry which includes collaborations across UCL, NHS Hospitals and affiliated Biomedical Research Centres. This collaborative approach has led to significant impact and applications in various areas, including Cardiovascular Computational Modelling, Cancer Mechanobiology, Imaging and Characterising Multiscale Biomechanics, Medical Devices, Sensing and Robotics, Orthopaedics and Bioprosthesis, Therapeutic Ultrasound, and Biomanufacturing.

Affiliated with the Biomechanical Engineering Group is the UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering whose purpose is to stimulate and support interdisciplinary, world-class research and innovation in healthcare engineering bringing together leading researchers across UCL including the Department of Mechanical Engineering and our partner hospitals to develop the next generation of digital and medical technologies.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is seeking to fill a research-focused position in Data-driven Biomechanical Modelling at the Lecturer level (equivalent of a U.S. tenure-track Assistant Professor position).

The key theme of this post is “biomechanical modelling meeting with data science”. One of the strengths in the Biomechanical Engineering group in the department is computational modelling – we develop new methods and apply them to a wide spectrum of problems from fundamental bioscience to clinical practice. This post is to further that by integrating conventional mathematical and computational modelling approaches with data-driven methods (statistical, machine learning, etc.), introducing an additional dimension to the existing activities and expertise in the department. We expect applicants to be driven by the application of their work in clinical practice and to improve our understanding of human biology and physiology.

The post holder is also expected to work synergistically with other research areas in the department, as well as with colleagues outside the department, especially those within UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering and the UCL-affiliated NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (UCLH, GOSH, Moorfields) with a focus on translating scientific developments through to patient outcomes.

The department also has a strong drive in reflecting research excellence in our educational programmes, and the post holder should have experience of and contribute significantly to this work, e.g. through our MSc Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering programme.

Additionally, UCL hosts a number of Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT), and the successful candidate is expected to contribute to the running of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Health Technologies (based in the Department), along with participation in others at UCL including the EPSRC CDTs in Engineering Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance and Accelerated Medicines Design & Development where Mechanical Engineering has a strong involvement.

We are keen to receive applications from candidates who are proficient in the following:

• PhD/EngD in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering or other relevant discipline.
• Track record of high-quality research, which is reflected in the authorship of high-quality publications, or other research outputs, in relevant research areas.
• A strong knowledge of a relevant subject area and a demonstrated link to how this will grow research and teaching in the biomechanical modelling and data science areas.
• A broad subject background enabling contributions to UCL teaching programmes, and in particular to computational modelling and data science.
• Proven excellent skills to conduct research work in the broader area of bio-engineering with emphasis on the areas of relevance to the post.
• Proven skills of designing and delivering excellent, and inclusive undergraduate and postgraduate education at an international level.
• Ability to secure research funding.
• Ability to supervise students at PhD level and to contribute to collaborative research projects.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment.
• Commitment to UCL’s policy of equal opportunity and the ability to work harmoniously with colleagues and students of all cultures and backgrounds.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

For more detail concerning the post's requirements please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Please ensure you upload all the following with your application:

• Full CV.
• Publication list. This must include a list of top five publications together with a short description (100 words max) for each outlining their significance.
• Teaching experience to date (1,000 word max).
• A research strategy for next 5 years (1,000 word max).
• Summary of how you satisfy the selection criteria listed: Please take care to copy and paste the criteria into your “Statement in support of your application” and describe underneath each criteria how you meet it, giving examples. You will be scored on how you meet each criteria.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.