Postdoctoral Research Associate in Impact and Shock Mechanics

The Impact and Shock Mechanics Laboratory (ISML) is seeking a highly motivated and innovative scientist to develop and lead a new project as a postdoctoral researcher through a Prosperity Partnership on Inertial Fusion Energy, sponsored by UKRI and First Light Fusion, and in collaboration with Imperial College London, Oxford Physics, and University of York. The ability to think outside the box with creativity, along with having the drive and ambition to develop those ideas in a highly experimental laboratory is what we value in our colleagues.

You will be working at the cross-section of impact engineering, shock physics, and fusion science, contributing to both in-house and offsite experiments to study the properties and behaviour of materials subjected to extreme conditions through hypervelocity impact. You will design, coordinate, instrument, and carry out novel experiments at 4th generation light sources (e.g. ESRF-EBS, EuXFEL), exploiting capabilities for ultrafast subsurface probing to tease out new information on hydrodynamics and heat transport in structured targets. The right candidate will also have the freedom to explore alternative and novel probing strategies, exercising their knowledge and skill to enhance the type and level of detail extracted from these high-value experiments.

As part of your role, you will have the opportunity to engage across the wider Partnership, accessing expertise in engineering, plasma physics, pulsed power, numerical modelling, and data science (ML), for example, across both academia and industry. You will also be asked to provide guidance to less experienced members of the research group, including postdocs, research assistants, technicians and DPhil and project students, as well as represent the PI and ISML when required.

You will hold a PhD (or be close to completion) in a relevant subject area. You will possess a combination of scientific and technical skills that can help develop next generation technologies within the infrastructure constraints we have access to or can be realistically built up. You will have exceptional initiative and the ability to work independently at the highest level, including a demonstrable ability to complete projects and manage your own area of academic research.

You will help ensure a healthy and vibrant research environment within the Impact and Shock Mechanics Laboratory. This will involve leading, devising, coordinating and supervising research in this area, as well as engaging in collaborative activities across the Partnership. You will be supported and encouraged to attract further funding to underpin and complement the research, and will also be involved in the administrative activities of the Group and Department.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof Daniel Eakins ([email protected]).

For more information about working at the Department, see www.eng.ox.ac.uk/about/work-with-us/

Only online applications received before midday on 08 November 2024 can be considered. You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, including a brief statement of research interests (describing how past experience and future plans fit with the advertised position), CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The Department holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to promoting women in Science, Engineering and Technology.

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