Faculty of Engineering – Institute for Aerospace Technology (IAT)

Marie Curie ITN Project: INNOVATE – The Systematic Integration of Novel Aircraft Technology

Marie Curie Fellows (13 projects)

£36,929 per annum in accordance with Marie Curie Scholarship

Applications are invited to work with Dr Hervé Morvan and his colleagues in the Institute for Aerospace Technology (IAT) on a European funded project in the area of novel aircraft technology attached to propulsion, airframes and controls, ground operations, navigation and communication. Successful candidates will register for a 3-year PhD in the Faculty of Engineering within the Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) programme INNOVATE which the University leads and coordinates. INNOVATE includes 5 key Work-Packages (WP1-5 below) and 13 positions.

INNOVATE aims to train the next generation of highly skilled engineers and scientists able to understand, undertake and support state-of-the art technological activities and challenges for the aero-sector in a truly multi-disciplinary environment. Key industrial partners include Rolls-Royce plc, GE Aviation, SKF, AVIO S.p.a., SINTEF IKT, EADS UK Ltd, EADS Germany, NAFEMS, Cenaero, Rolls-Royce Deutschland, Heathrow Airport Ltd, Airlight Energy Manufacturing SA, EagleBurgmann Germany GmbH & Co. KG and the Midlands Aerospace Alliance. Partners will offer placement opportunities of up to 6 months. Candidates will move between countries as necessary for approx. 6 months during the project. Some projects could involve two 3 month placements.

Each ESR (Early Stage Researcher) will develop novel technologies leading to PhDs, while simultaneously contributing to the formulation of a joined-up blueprint for tomorrow’s air transport system. Each core technology activity will occur in one of our world-leading research groups or centres for gas turbines, power conversion & electrical machines, materials and structures, additive manufacturing, geospatial sciences, computer sciences and human factors under the supervision of two leading academic experts. The team will engage in a collaborative activity, as part of “WP5 – Virtual Demonstrator”, to integrate the novel technologies and propose a holistic model of a future air transport system for aircraft and operational systems. The integration stage will reproduce industrial design and validation processes to deliver training and awareness of multi-disciplinary approaches to the team.

Candidates should be in the first 4-years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers and should not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in applied mathematics, physics, computer science and engineering (mechanical, manufacturing and electrical/electronics) backgrounds relevant to each project.

Candidates must not have resided, worked or studied in the UK for more than 12-months in the 3-years immediately prior to recruitment (not including short stays or holidays.)

These full-time posts are available from October 2013 and are offered on a fixed-term 36 month contract. All ESRs must start in October 2013. To apply please access the links below relating to your preferred project(s):

WP1: Propulsion Technologies (led by Dr Hervé Morvan)

Project 1:

Development of high sealing technology for aeroengines: An investigation in radial air-riding seals (led by Prof. Seamus Garvey / Dr Hervé Morvan) Ref: ENG/727
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG727

Project 2:

Heat management and thermal barriers for aeroengine applications 
(led by Dr Hervé Morvan / Prof. Kwang-Leong Choy). Ref: ENG/728
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG728  

Project 3:

Impact of the MEA on aircraft engine dynamics and design
(led by Prof. Pat Wheeler/ Prof. Seamus Garvey) Ref: ENG/729
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG729 

Project 4:

In-line electrical machines for gas turbine propulsion engines
(led by Dr Tahar Hamiti / Prof. Seamus Garvey). Ref: ENG/730
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG730  

WP2: Airframe and control technologies (led by Prof. Andy Long)

Project 5:

Additive manufacturing techniques: novel electrical machines and new thermal cooling designs
(led by Prof. Richard Hague / Dr Chris Gerada). Ref: ENG/731
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG731  

Project 6:

Flow control and drag reduction in turbulent boundary layers
(led by Prof. Kwing-So Choi / Dr Pericle Zanchetta). Ref: ENG/732
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG732  

Project 7:

Full electrical closed-loop airflow control using plasma actuators
(led by Prof. Kwing-So Choi / Dr Pericle Zanchetta). Ref: ENG/733
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG733  

Project 8:

Exploitation of internal pressurisation as a means of enhancing structural properties
(led by Prof. Seamus Garvey / Prof Andy Long). Ref: ENG/734
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG734  

WP3: Ground operation technologies (led by Prof. Pat Wheeler)

Project 9:

Electric taxiing: high torque density direct-drive electrical machines
(led by Dr Chris Gerada / Dr Steve Pickering). Ref: ENG/735
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG735

Project 10:

Green ground operations: Computer optimisation of preparation to take-off
(led by Dr Jason Atkin / Prof. Terry Moore) Ref: ENG/736
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG736 

Project 11:

Aiding take off and reducing weight using the electric catapult
(led by Prof. Seamus Garvey / Prof. Pat Wheeler) Ref: ENG/737
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG737  

WP4: Innovative Navigation and Communication Technologies (led by Prof. Terry Moore)

Project 12:

GNSS denial and integrity
(led by Prof. Terry Moore / Prof. Sarah Sharples) Ref: ENG/738
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG738  

Project 13:

Human Centred Systems in advanced aircraft technologies
(led by Prof. Sarah Sharples / Prof. Terry Moore) Ref: ENG/739
To apply please access: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Jobs/CurrentVacancies/ref/ENG739  

WP5: The integration WP will be led by Prof. Seamus Garvey.

All successful candidates will contribute to this WP.

Informal queries may be addressed to: Dr Hervé Morvan: herve.morvan@nottingham.ac.uk. Applications sent to this email address will not be accepted. For information about the Institute for Aerospace Technology see: http://nottingham.ac.uk/aerospace/index.aspx. For information on Engineering please see: http://nottingham.ac.uk/engineering/index.aspx.  

If you are unable to apply on-line please contact the Human Resources Department,
Tel: +44 (0)115 951 5206.

Applicants will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as defined by the requirements set out by the UK Border and Immigration Agency. Please visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ for more information. 

Please note that you will need to apply for each project you are interested in, the online recruitment system will save your details once you have registered and so you will only need to attach your CV to each application.

Please quote the relevant reference number. Closing date: 14 August 2013.