Research Fellow acoustics and vibration

Location: Highfield Campus

Salary:  £29,301 to £36,001

Full Time Fixed Term (24 months)

Closing Date:  Thursday 14 September 2017

Interview Date:  To be confirmed

Reference: 906617KR

You will be working on the EU/Shift2Rail-funded project ‘Run2Rail’. This collaborative project involves 15 European university and industry partners and aims to develop innovative running gear solutions for rail vehicles. You will work mainly in the workpackages on noise & vibration and active suspension and control.

The post is based in the Dynamics Research Group (DG) within the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) in the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment.  ISVR is a leading international centre for research in acoustics and vibration and has a reputation as a leader in noise and vibration research for railways in particular. The Faculty brings together a wide range of inter-related disciplines and sectors, including acoustical, aerospace, biomedical, civil, computational, electro-mechanical, environmental, mechanical and materials engineering, energy technologies, ship science and transportation with world class strength in depth.

Your work will involve the development of prediction methods and experimental methods for assessing the transmission of noise and vibration from the running gear into a railway vehicle through both airborne and structure-borne paths. You will be required to collaborate with the team at the university and with researchers in partner organisations. You will be expected to attend regular project meetings which may involve overseas travel. You will also be required to report the findings of your work in leading scientific journals and conferences.

You will have a PhD** or equivalent/equivalent experience in vibration, acoustics or a related discipline. A detailed understanding and knowledge of a relevant area of noise and vibration and experience of modelling and use of Matlab or equivalent is also required. Specific understanding and knowledge of railway rolling noise and vibration and relevant experience in modelling are desirable.

Informal enquiries can be made to Professor David Thompson: djt@isvr.soton.ac.uk

You will join one of the UK’s most dynamic centres for engineering and environmental research and education rated number one for research power in REF2014.  We have an excellent record of collaborative research with industry and academic institutions in the UK and abroad.

The Faculty has nearly 200 academic staff working in a number of research themes (http://www.southampton.ac.uk/engineering/research/themes.page). We have exceptional research facilities particularly in our state-of-the-art facilities at our new Boldrewood Innovation Campus.

In recognition of our continued commitment to improving equality for women in science and engineering we were awarded an Athena SWAN bronze award in September 2013 and again in 2016.  The Faculty will give due consideration to applicants that wish to work flexibly including part-time and due consideration will be given to applicants who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy*, onsite childcare facilities and employees are able to participate in the childcare vouchers scheme. 

The University of Southampton is the top one per cent of world universities and in the top 10 of the UK’s research-intensive universities

The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible university and has recently been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.  Our vision is to embed the principles of sustainability into all aspects of our individual and collective work, integrating sustainable development into our business planning, policy-making, and professional activities.  This commits all of our staff and students to take responsibility for managing their activities to minimise harm to the environment, whether this through switching off non-essential electrical equipment or using the recycling facilities.

*subject to qualifying criteria                                  

**Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification.  The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD.  Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.