Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Researcher

The posts are part of SurPhase, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network funded under Horizon Europe (Grant Agreement No. 101311533) and coordinated by the University of Birmingham.

SurPhase is an international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral doctoral training programme addressing fundamental and applied challenges in phase-change heat transfer. It brings together expertise in thermal sciences, surface engineering, advanced manufacturing, computational modelling, data-driven methods, durability and sustainability.

The University of Birmingham will recruit four Doctoral Candidates, each appointed as a Research Fellow I for 36 months and undertaking an individual doctoral research project within the SurPhase programme. The four University of Birmingham projects broadly cover:
- Advanced surface engineering for enhanced flow boiling
- Molecular modelling of phase change at engineered interfaces
- Data-driven design of surfaces for enhanced boiling
- Durability and sustainability of engineered heat-transfer surfaces

The postholders will also participate in the network-wide research and training programme and undertake planned research secondments with SurPhase academic and industrial partners.

Role Summary:
- Initiate and conduct original research which has measurable outcomes and is reflected in a growing national and often incipient international reputation
- Plan, design and co-ordinate research activities and programmes
- Contribute to the development of research strategies
- Publish results of own research
- Supervise PhD students
- Contribute to the Department/School through management/leadership
- Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities, widening participation, schools outreach or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University

Additional SurPhase-specific responsibilities:
- Undertake an individual doctoral research project within the SurPhase MSCA Doctoral Network
- Design, conduct and analyse research appropriate to the appointed project
- Contribute to the scientific objectives, milestones and deliverables of SurPhase
- Work collaboratively with researchers across the academic and industrial consortium
- Participate in network-wide scientific, transferable-skills and professional-development training
- Undertake planned international and intersectoral research secondments
- Disseminate research through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, network activities and appropriate public-engagement activities

Main Duties:
- Pursue personal research including developing research ideas and winning support, including financial support
- Plan, publish and/or execute high quality research
- Project manage research activities, and/or supervise other research staff
- Present high quality findings in publications and conference proceedings
- Develop novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued
- Supervise and examine PhD students, both within and outwith the University
- Provide expert advice to colleagues and students within discipline
- Contribute to the administration/management of research across the Department/School
- Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, and public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University
- Contribute to some administrative activities within the University, typically relating to research
- Apply knowledge in a way that develops new intellectual understanding
- Actively manage equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour

Additional SurPhase-specific duties:
- Undertake research within one of the four University of Birmingham SurPhase Doctoral Candidate projects
- Plan and execute experimental, computational or data-driven research, as appropriate to the specific project
- Maintain accurate and reproducible research records and contribute to appropriate research data management and open-science practices
- Work with SurPhase supervisors, Doctoral Candidates and academic and industrial partners across the network
- Participate in regular project meetings, network meetings, training schools, workshops and conferences
- Undertake research secondments at partner organisations in accordance with the SurPhase training programme
- Prepare research outputs including journal papers, conference contributions, technical reports and project deliverables
- Complete the academic and research requirements associated with registration for a doctoral degree at the University of Birmingham
- Contribute to the wider research environment of the School of Engineering

Person Specification:
- Normally, a higher degree relevant to the research area (normally PhD or near completion) or equivalent qualifications
- Extensive research experience and scholarship within subject specialism
- Experience and achievement reflected in a growing reputation
- Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results
- Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful models, techniques and methods
- Extensive experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity
- Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area
- Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied
- Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action

Salary: Fixed salary of £49,747; additional allowances may be applicable depending on circumstances. Grade 8 (Spot).

4 positions available. Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to 31 December 2029.