Job profile

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Job title

Postdoctoral Research Associate/Fellow (ESIF)

Job reference

R57140

Date posted

17/08/2018

Application closing date

16/09/2018

Location

Cornwall

Salary

The starting salary will be from £29,515 up to £34,188 on Grade E for Postdoctoral Research Associate or £35,210 up to £43,266 on Grade F for Postdoctoral Research Fellow.

Package

Generous holiday allowances, flexible working, pension scheme and relocation package (if applicable).

Job category/type

Academic

Job description

The College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences

The post is available on a fixed term basis from 1^st October 2018 to 31^st May 2020 and is part of a project involving the University of Exeter. It is funded through the European Regional Development Fund and forms part of the European Structural Investment Framework for Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly.

The University of Exeter is a Russell Group university in the top 200 of universities worldwide. We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, and have achieved a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2017. We have over 22,000 students and 4600 staff from 180 different countries and have been rated the WhatUni2017 International Student Choice. Our research focuses on some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today, with 98% of our research rated as being of international quality in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students.

The post

The College wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate/Fellow to participate in the successful ERDF 'CNE' and Interreg 'ICE' project applications. Cornwall New Energy (CNE) project aims to provide business support to small and medium enterprises and community groups in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to enable them to plan towards installing renewable energy systems, adopt low carbon and environmental goods and services, develop innovations in the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector, access new market opportunities, improve their economic/environmental performance amongst other outcomes. The Intelligent Community Energy project (ICE) aims to design and implement innovative smart energy solutions for isolated territories in the UK-France Channel area.

The successful applicant will join a strong research group in Renewable Energy with extensive physical and computational facilities and excellent support staff. The research area that will be investigated in both projects straddles energy management, control, and machine learning.

This exciting opportunity will include the design and installation of a microgrid project at the new Renewable Energy Engineering Facility building at Penryn Campus which includes a 100kW bi-directional converter, Li-ion battery, PV and load. You will be responsible for developing a smart energy management system that will decide the charging strategy for the battery in order to maximise usage of renewable energy sources and reduce electricity bill. The management system will be based on artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques. Additionally, the research work will include other tasks such as mathematical modelling, numerical simulation, electrical wiring and testing. The work will also include developing a CAN-bus communication protocol between the power electronic converter, the battery management system, and the supervisory energy management system.

About you

Research Associate: The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or be nearing completion or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will have sufficient knowledge in system modelling and control. Knowledge in artificial intelligence and machine learning is preferable. The post-holders will contribute to team decision making and use creativity to analyse and interpret research data to generate original ideas based on outcomes leading to the publication of research of international standing and quality.

Research Fellow: The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in Energy Management, machine learning and artificial intelligence and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader and help in supervising PhD students.

Applicants will have extensive knowledge in system modelling and control. Knowledge in artificial intelligence and machine learning is essential. The post-holders will contribute to team decision making and use creativity to analyse and interpret research data to generate original ideas based on outcomes leading to the publication of research of international standing and quality.

Furthermore, the Research Associate/Fellow will work with collaborating business partners and organisations in the CNE project. As part of the ICE project the post-holder will also liaise with UK and French project partners. The post holder will work closely with appointed academic supervisors, business partners, delivery partners, and members of the University's Impact, Innovation and Business (IIB) directorate to achieve the objectives of the CNE and ICE projects.

What we can offer you

Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a new Fertility Treatment Policy
A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Cornwall

To view the Job Description and Person Specification document please click here.

For further information please contact Dr. Mohammad Abusara, e-mail m.abusara@ex.ac.uk or telephone (01326) 371885.

The closing date for completed applications is 16^th September 2018. Interviews are expected to take place on 28^th September 2018.

The department is proud to have a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of their commitment to providing equality of opportunity and advancing the representation of women in STEM/M subjects. All of the University of Exeter's STEM/M departments hold an Athena SWAN award.

The University of Exeter is an equal opportunity employer. We are officially recognised as a Disability Confident employer and an Athena Swan accredited institution. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented in the workforce.

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