Research Fellow

FractureFix is a UKRI EPSRC funded International Centre to Centre Award concerned with research investigating secondary osteoporosis and bone fracture. It comprises a collaboration between the University of Birmingham (Lead organisation), ETH Zurich, Switzerland and Uppsala University, Sweden. Within this consortium, the role is to investigate novel interventions to either prevent or reduce the effects of fracture.

As part of this role, you will take a lead in the following activities:
- Working with stakeholders to provide target product profiles for possible interventions either to prevent or following fracture.
- Development of minimally invasive approaches for the TPPs outlined above including the design of smart materials and alternative manufacturing methods.
- Evaluating the different approaches and designs using beyond the state-of-the-art testing scenarios.

Role Summary:
- Work within the EPSRC funded project FractureFix and contribute to its successful execution.
- Operate within the area of Medical Engineering associated with secondary osteoporosis and fracture including the characterisation of novel coatings for enhanced implant-bone integration.
- Provide interpretation and insight from data accrued considering the research undertaken and the wider research environment.
- Contribute to overall positive research culture within the project and the wider medical engineering group.
- Contribute to knowledge transfer activities including but not limited to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar.
- Ensure that all activities undertaken are compliant with the necessary regulatory guidance including those associated with health and safety, ethics and good research practices.

Main Duties:
- Contribute to writing bids for research funding.
- Analyse and interpret data.
- Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding.
- Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc.
- Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline.
- Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods.
- Undertake management/administration arising from research.
- Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration.
- Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, under supervision of a project leader.
- Collect research data through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews.
- Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters.
- Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research.
- Identify risks to the orderly progression of the research project and mitigate these to ensure the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
- Promote equality and value diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification — Essential:
- First degree in Mechanical Engineering or adjunct degree and a higher degree relevant to research area or equivalent qualifications.
- Experience in medical engineering research with a high level of competence in experimental approaches to material and/or coating science.
- Strong publication record and demonstrable experience of wider dissemination activities with stakeholders.
- Experience in one or more of the following materials characterisation techniques: scratch testing, nano-indentation, SEM/TEM cross section, X-ray diffraction, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, electrochemical analysis, and nano-impaction.
- Experience of cell culture methodologies for assessing biocompatibility.
- High level analytical capability.
- Ability to work independently under guidance from the project team.
- Ability to communicate complex information clearly.
- Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively.
- Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.
- Ability to contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project.
- Ability to co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort.
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.