Job Description
Position Details
School of Engineering
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149
Grade: 7
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to January 2026
Closing date: 18th June 2025
‘Open House’ Drop In Session: We will be holding an ‘open house’ drop in session at the University’s Exchange building, in Centenary Square, Birmingham, between 10am and 5pm on Friday 6th June 2025. If you’re interested in working at the University of Birmingham and perhaps have a few questions, this is an opportunity to meet colleagues in the Recruitment team. It will be a relaxed and informal event – you can drop in at any time.
Background
With support from the British Council, the University of Birmingham is collaborating with partners in Egypt to implement novel desalination technology to treat industrial effluents. The project will build on recent work at the University to develop highly efficient batch reverse osmosis technology and apply it to industrial water reuse. As well as advancing the batch reverse osmosis process, the project is expected to integrate related processes such as ultrafiltration and photocatalysis to meet the requirements of applications. The Research Fellow will be required to create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities such as design of water desalination and reuse systems, experimental work, and liaison with academic and industrial partners to achieve the technology transfer goals of the project.
Role Summary
- Work within the research grant ‘Innovation in industrial wastewater treatment and water reuse’, sponsored by the International Science Partnership Fund (supported by the British Council and by the Science, Technology and Funding Authority, Egypt)
- Operate within specialised areas of water desalination using membranes and related processes
- Analyse and interpret research findings and results
- Contribute to generating funding
- Contribute 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
Main Duties
The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.
- Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research in collaboration with industrial and international stakeholders (with assistance of a mentor if required)
- Contribute to writing bids for research funding
- Undertake experimental work, 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, often under supervision of a project leader
- Collect research data; this may be 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
- Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
- Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
Person Specification
Essential
- First degree in area of specialism (such as Chemical, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering) and normally, a higher degree relevant to research area – or equivalent qualifications or industrial experience
- High level analytical capability
- Ability to communicate complex information clearly
- Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
- Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
- Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
- Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
- 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
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of water processing technology
- Knowledge of water desalination technologies such as reverse osmosis
- Experience in designing and operating desalination equipment
Informal enquiries to Philip Davies, email: p.a.davies@bham.ac.uk
We believe there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.
Job Info
- Job Identification: 7190
- Job Category: Academic Non-clinical
- Posting Date: 06/04/2025, 01:01 AM
- Apply Before: 06/19/2025, 12:59 AM
- Job Schedule: Full time
- Locations: Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2TT, GB
