Research Fellow

The manufacturing of steel products is a complex multi-stage activity where variations in upstream processes affect the downstream processes and properties. To increase competitiveness, steel and metal processing industries need to understand the relationship between processing and metallurgical properties particularly when introducing new grades and/or changes in process. Steel processing windows are naturally conservative and the development of new or improved grades expensive and time consuming, for example trials for a new grade can produce up to 1000 tonne of scrap, worth anywhere from £200-£3k/tonne, in addition to the time required of typically 1½ years for a new grade. There is a need for process models, taking into account metallurgical understanding and local variability, to allow grade optimisation within commercially acceptable processing windows to reduce cost (leaner grades) and/or improve performance (higher strength, more consistent properties), which will enhance industrial competitiveness.

The challenge being tackled is to integrate metallurgical knowledge and process models to provide solutions for new/improved grade development and process optimisation for industrial deployment. The metallurgical knowledge is being generated by other researchers in the group and there is a need to develop robust modelling and case study solutions for targeted industrial projects. This work is in collaboration with Tata Steel Research and Innovation Limited on substrate development for packaging, automotive and tubes. A combination of modelling and experimental work to understand/optimise the alloys and its processing is needed from the candidate.

You will hold a PhD and have already demonstrated both excellence and independence in research. You will have a track record of internationally recognised publications in metallurgy, manufacturing modelling or material science, and have expertise in one or more of the following: COMSOL, SEM, heat treatment, data analysis.

We are seeking candidates who can make a strong contribution to both our research directly through the project and to the broader group, and who will make the most of the opportunities provided by our lively and vibrant departmental culture.

If you are near submission of your PhD, or have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made at Research Assistant level, at the highest spinal point of pay grade 5 (£35,302 per annum). Upon receipt of evidence confirming the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow, at the lowest spinal point of grade 6 (£36,320 per annum).

WMG is the largest department at the University of Warwick, with over 800 staff and nearly 3,000 students across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in management, technology, and applied engineering. WMG is globally recognised for world-class research, innovative industry partnerships, and teaching excellence, and holds the Athena SWAN Silver Award and the Institutional Silver Award.

Benefits include an attractive pension scheme, a generous holiday allowance plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, savings on a wide range of products and services, a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, onsite childcare facilities, and access to flexible working. The University is a Living Wage employer.