Research Associate in Advanced Alloy Characterisation for Hydrogen Applications

Imperial College London - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

About the role:

Applications are encouraged for a Research Associate in advanced alloy characterisation to work on the UKRI/EPSRC New Investigator Award project “Hydrogen Embrittlement Mitigation by Engineering Grain Boundary Composition” (HEnGB). The project, led by Dr Livia Cupertino-Malheiros, aims at engineering the composition of grain boundaries to develop a new class of alloys that are less weakened when exposed to hydrogen.

You will have access to state-of-the-art experimental facilities (e.g., infrastructure-materials, cryomicroscopy, royce-imperial). The initial term will be one year, with the potential to extend the appointment for up to 3 years (the project duration).

You will be integrated in the Metals Degradation and Sustainability research group and expected to maximise the collaborative opportunities associated with this project. Specifically, the work will be conducted in close collaboration with Imperial’s Materials and Mechanical Engineering Departments and with the University of Oxford.

What you would be doing:

You will be responsible for designing and manufacturing alloy candidates, characterising their grain structure (nature, orientation and composition) and testing their susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. You will be expected to improve experimental protocols to characterise the co-segregation of deuterium and other elements to grain boundaries using cryogenic APT analyses and contribute for the development of new micromechanical testing devices for hydrogen embrittlement testing. You will also take part in collaborative numerical modelling work, participate in activities of the research group, submit publications to reputed journals and liaise with academic collaborators and sponsors.

What we are looking for:

You must have obtained or be close to obtaining a PhD in Materials Science, Engineering, or other closely related field. Also, you should have experience in at least one of the following:

• Microscopy, particularly EBSD, FIB, TKD and APT
• Alloy design, particularly grain boundary engineering
• Hydrogen embrittlement
• Micromechanical testing

What we can offer you:

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity
• Access and training to state-of-the-art experimental facilities
• The opportunity to contribute to the supervision of PhD and MSc Theses
• Grow your career: gain access to Imperial’s sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing

Further Information

This is a full-time post. This role is for a fixed-term contract for 12 months, with the potential to be extended.

Full information on the post is available in the job description. Please make sure to upload a CV and a cover letter to your application.

If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Dr Livia Cupertino-Malheiros – l.cupertino-malheiros@imperial.ac.uk.

Any queries regarding the application process should be directed to Briony Webb at b.webb@imperial.ac.uk.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds and disabilities. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the interview process and to perform crucial job functions, as well as other support including staff networks. Please contact us to request accommodation.