Assistant Professor (Lecturer) / Associate Professor in Structural Engineering

Salary range - Associate Professor (Level 6): £49,149-£61,775 per year depending on qualifications and experience

Location: Post will initially be based at Highfield Campus but this will be moved to Boldrewood Campus

The Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton invites outstanding applicants for two faculty positions at Lecturer (Assistant Professor) or Associate Professor level across all areas of Civil Engineering Structures. Priority is for candidates at the Lecturer level, although highly qualified individuals will be considered at the Associate Professor level. 

Faculty of Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton is a world-class centre for education, research and enterprise. The University of Southampton is a research-intensive institution, which has come out top in the UK for General Engineering in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) results. Our research in the core civil and environmental engineering disciplines address real-life problems that often do not lend themselves to traditional technical investigation. We work closely with industry and other disciplines to help recognise, define, analyse and solve problems in a way that advances fundamental scientific knowledge and understanding, benefits society and protects and enhances the environment. 

The new Large Structures Testing Laboratory (LSTL) is part of the £46M investment in the National Infrastructure Laboratory (N|I|L - https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2017/06/infrastructure-laboratory.page) which is currently under construction with expected commissioning in early 2019. The N|I|L is being developed as part of the UK Collaboratorium for Research in Infrastructure and Cities (UKCRIC - http://www.ukcric.com/) and will comprise a multi-scale materials and structures testing centre that will be unique internationally, combining advanced materials and full structural scale testing facilities applicable to a broad range of engineering disciplines. The LSTL comprises a 30m by 15m strong floor facility for multi-axial testing of large structures, with multiple hydraulic actuators and controllers enabling both static and dynamic loading as well as hybrid simulation. The N|I|L and LSTL will have a crucial role in further developing and strengthening research across disciplines utilising the University of Southampton’s internationally leading competences and facilities for advanced experimental mechanics including data-rich full field imaging, computational structural mechanics, and materials engineering. This world leading expertise along with the new capabilities for full-scale structural testing are expected to create a unique environment for ground breaking structural engineering research that relies on integration of design, advanced numerical simulation, and experimentation. 

The successful candidate will have an academic reputation, demonstrated by a significant record of high quality journal publications in structural engineering. You will be expected to develop, largely through external funding, a research team in your specialist area. We would generally expect applicants for Lecturer level to have some post-doctoral experience. For applicants to be considered at Associate Professor level, you must have experience in teaching and research at graduate and postgraduate level as well as a track record in securing research funding. The successful candidates will have a reputation in one of the following fields of structural engineering:

1.     Resilience-based design and assessment

2.     Structural dynamics and earthquake engineering

3.     Large-scale transport infrastructure and bridges

4.     Structural health monitoring 

5.     Nonlinear structural mechanics including multi-scale modelling

6.     Design of smart structural systems using advanced composite/smart materials

7.     Performance-based assessment of ageing infrastructure and bridges in multi-hazard environments

The new posts will support faculty growth in the Infrastructure Research Group. The successful candidates will be expected to develop scholarship, research and enterprise in line with the Faculty’s research strategy to support teaching within a research led environment at undergraduate and postgraduate level and to participate in Faculty administration. Research emphasis is on any of the aforementioned research areas of structural engineering, which address societal and global grand challenges. 

In education, the ability to develop and deliver a range of innovative teaching and assessment approaches is essential. The vision is to further develop our range of modules and project work to widen our structural engineering teaching activities. The goal is to further develop and strengthen our education programmes by contributing and leading strategic developments in education.

All applicants must include both a Curriculum Vitae and a three-page research statement, which includes research vision and grant capture over the next five years. This document will be treated in the strictest confidence and with full respect to ownership. This is an essential component of the selection process.

Please note if appointed to the Level 5 role your official job title will be Lecturer.

If appointed to the Level 6 role your official job title will be Associate Professor.

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Stephen Turnock (S.R.Turnock@soton.ac.uk) or Professor Ole Thomsen (O.Thomsen@soton.ac.uk).

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. Due consideration will be given to applicants who have taken a career break.

The University has generous maternity/paternity/adoption leave policies and onsite childcare facilities; employees are able to participate in the childcare vouchers scheme.  Other benefits include state-of-the-art on-campus sports, arts and culture facilities, a full programme of events and a range of staff discounts.

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, and is a proud member of the Russell Group. 

The University of Southampton is amongst the world’s top 100 universities, placing 96th overall in the QS World University Rankings, 2019. The global top 100 ranking is based on performance indicators focused on excellence in research as well as the University’s global reputation amongst fellow Academics and Employers.

Southampton is placed 11th overall in the 2018 Times Higher Education’s (THE) table of ‘Golden Age’ universities.

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Please note that applications from agencies will not be accepted unless indicated in the job advert.