Research Fellow in Ultrasonic Cleaning

The University of Southampton is an institution in the top one per cent of world universities* and one of the UK’s top 15 research-intensive universities. We have an international reputation for research, teaching and enterprise.

You will join a leading Engineering Faculty with an excellent record of collaborative research with industry and academic institutions in the UK and abroad. In September 2016 an Athena SWAN Bronze award was received in recognition of our continued commitment to improving equality for women in science and engineering.

The Faculty offers exceptional research facilities in the areas of fluids, structures and their interactions, including a new world-class fluid dynamics facilities complex in the Boldrewood Engineering Campus, complete with a 138m towing tank.

Join the research team of Professor Leighton for a project on bubble acoustics, ultrasonic cleaning and processing. The team is at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, in the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton, one of the UK’s most dynamic centres for engineering and environmental research and education.

This multidisciplinary team (of engineers, microbiologists, medics and physicists) has a history of making award-winning contributions to society through its research, science and engineering into bubble acoustics. You will be able to participate in a supportive and friendly environment, on research that is aimed at offsetting the ‘antibiotic apocalypse, which by 2050 will be killing more people than cancer and have cost the world economy more than the current size of the global economy. As such, you will also be an active member of the 300-person strong community of NAMRIP (Network for AntiMicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention), which is also led by Professor Leighton.

 

Job Purpose

To undertake research in accordance with the specified research project under the supervision of the award holder. To undertake leadership, management and engagement activities.

To carry out research tasks as directed by Prof Leighton, including experimentation, production of materials for reports, meeting with sponsors, assisting in the general running of the laboratory. Dissemination activities including oral presentation.

 

Key responsibilities

• To develop and carry out an area of personal research.           
• Regularly disseminate findings by taking the lead in preparing publication materials for referred journals, presenting results at conferences, or exhibiting work at other appropriate events.
• Contribute to the writing of bids for research funding.
• Investigate models and approaches to test and develop them.
• Collaborate/work on original research tasks with colleagues in other institutions.                                                                                                                                             
• Carry out administrative tasks associated with specified research funding, for example risk assessment of research activities, organisation of project meetings and documentation. 
• Implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely formal reporting and financial control.
• Supervise the work of junior research staff.                                                                                                                                             
• Carry out occasional undergraduate supervision, demonstrating or lecturing duties within own area of expertise, under the direct guidance of a member of departmental academic staff.
• Any other duties as allocated by the line manager following consultation with the post holder.

 

Special Requirements

• Direct responsibility to holder of research award or academic supervisor.
• May have additional reporting and liaison responsibilities to external funding bodies or sponsors.
• May be asked to serve on a relevant Academic Unit committee, for example research committee. 
• Collaborators/colleagues in other work areas and institutions.
• To be available to participate in fieldwork as required by the specified research project. 
• To attend national and international conferences for the purpose of disseminating research results.
• To meet with research sponsors and act in a professional manner.

 

Person specification

To be successful you will need a PhD (awarded or submitted awaiting viva) or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in bubbles acoustics.

You will also need strong experiment laboratory skills including:

• Expertise in the measurement of ultrasonic fields using hydrophones (as opposed to using some proxy like heat rise or chemical yield or the electrical power supplied to the transducer as a proxy measure of the acoustic field);
• Expert knowledge of ultrasonic transducers, and the signal generation, power amplification and other circuitry associated with this, sufficient to design and build devices capable of generating ultrasound;
• Expert knowledge of data acquisition systems for hydrophone time-series.

 

 

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.