Research Fellow - School of Engineering - 106915 - Grade 7

Location: United Kingdom Department: Academic Non-clinical

Position Details

School of Engineering

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 7, salary £38,784.

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to October 2027

Closing date: 10th November 2026

Background

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 provide a target product profiles for possible interventions either to prevent or following fracture.

to development of minimally invasive approaches for the TPPs outlined above including the design of smart materials and alternative manufacturing methods.

to evaluate 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

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

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; 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

Identify risks the orderly progression of the research project and mitigate these to ensure 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 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 including scratch testing, nano-indentation, SEM/TEM cross section, X-ray diffraction and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy as well as electrochemical analysis and nano-impaction.

Experience of cell culture methodologies for the assessing biocompatibility.

High level analytical capability

Be able 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

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

Informal enquiries to Richard Hall, email: [email protected]

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

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 Confiden