We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes. 

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

About the College/Department

Here at the University of Derby, the College of Science and Engineering is the home of STEM: the skills that are essential to the UK’s Industrial Strategy. From digitisation to decarbonisation, we have an important role to play in shaping the future. And by researching or collaborating with us, you can too. 

The College brings together a powerful combination of scientific expertise, technological innovation, and creative practice. With disciplines spanning computing, AI, data science, engineering, environmental sciences, built environments and psychology - we are uniquely positioned to solve real-world challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Our courses are designed with employability and future industry needs in mind, supported by cutting-edge facilities, strong employer partnerships, and a commitment to sustainability. Through applied research and hands-on learning, we equip students and staff to drive progress in areas that matter most; from smart technology to clean energy, advanced manufacturing to immersive design. 

School of Engineering and Built Environment 

The School of Engineering and Built Environment at the University of Derby is a dynamic and future-focused academic community that blends technical excellence with creative innovation. It offers a wide range of programmes across engineering, architecture, construction, and design, preparing students to tackle global challenges in sustainability, infrastructure, and the built environment. 

The School is home to research-active academics with backgrounds in engineering, architecture, interior design, and construction. Our staff bring real-world experience and academic rigour to the classroom, supporting students in developing both creative portfolios and technical competencies. 

The discipline area is located in the University’s STEM annex in Markeaton Street, where staff offices and lab facilities are co-located. Key investments in the last few years include dedicated intelligent instrumentation and smart sensor technologies, robotics, renewable energy, power engineering and advanced materials and manufacturing. The discipline area is actively engaged in knowledge exchange projects and has an active applied research agenda.  

About the Role

We are seeking a Researcher with proven experience in computational methods to join our team and contribute to a range of internationally funded research projects. The postholder will play a key role in the European-funded PANTAREI project, while also supporting activities within the NATO Science for Peace-funded ATHENA project, focused on nanocomposites for space applications, and the ESA Topical Team ENABLE.

Working closely with the Principal Investigator and project partners, you will contribute to the development and application of innovative research methodologies, undertake data analysis and investigation, and help advance knowledge within these cutting-edge research areas. You will be expected to take initiative in shaping research activities, contribute to funding proposals where appropriate, and build collaborative relationships with academic and external stakeholders.

The role also includes supporting the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students involved in project-related research, helping to develop their research skills and contributing to teaching activities where appropriate. A key aspect of the position will be disseminating research outcomes through publications in high-quality journals and presentations at national and international conferences, in line with the projects’ dissemination objectives.

The PANTAREI Project

PANTAREI  provides concrete, attractive, interdisciplinary and tech-oriented solutions for digitalising the entire life cycle of complex multi-scale bio-derived materials, from the design, to meta-structures realization and assessment stage

Buildings are globally responsible for more than 30% of total energy use and 19% of global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. They wield a colossal and far-reaching impact on the environment, voraciously consuming vast natural resources and spewing out emissions that fuel the relentless advance of global warming.

The future of sustainable constructions is represented by the Net-Zero Energy Building (NZEB) concept, that pertains to a structurally advanced and highly energy-efficient edifice, which, over a defined timeframe, generally a year, generates an equivalent amount of energy as it consumes.

To materialise this goal, there is the urgency to overcome an evident mismatch between digital technologies and meta-structures made of novel sustainable materials.

About You

You will hold, or be close to completing, a PhD in Computational Mechanics, Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, or a related discipline, with experience of delivering high-quality research in computational modelling and simulation. 

You will have expertise in one or more of the following areas: computational multiscale/multiphysics analysis, finite element methods (e.g. FEniCS), machine learning for materials and structural optimisation, high-performance computing, or advanced programming and user-defined subroutines. Knowledge of Noise Reduction Methods and Thermal Analysis is welcome 

Experience with ICME tools and modern software engineering approaches for computational research is also essential. With strong analytical, communication and problem-solving skills, you will be able to work independently and collaboratively, contribute to publications and presentations, and support the supervision of student researchers. You will be adaptable, proactive and committed to delivering high-quality research outcomes within an international, multidisciplinary environment.

A Higher Education Academy (HEA) Fellowship is desirable but not essential. A willingness to travel occasionally within the UK and overseas is required.

Benefits

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Angelo Maligno, Research Chair in Composite Materials via a.maligno@derby.ac.uk 

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk

Important Information

This role may be eligible for sponsorship by the University. 

The offered salary for this role is less than the going rate for the occupation and the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£41,700 per annum, as of 22^nd July 2025). Therefore you will only be eligible to apply for a Skilled Worker visa subject to your individual circumstances which must meet one of the following criteria set out by UKVI: 

You must also meet the English Language requirement.

Please note that the University will assess your individual eligibility for sponsorship at the shortlisting stage.

For more information, visit our website.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.

Please find our Safeguarding pages including our Safeguarding Policy here.

Closing Date: 10 Aug 2026

Area: Teaching and Research

Salary: £29,588 to £44,746 per annum

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better. The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region. We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes. 

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

About the College/Department

Here at the University of Derby, the College of Science and Engineering is the home of STEM: the skills that are essential to the UK’s Industrial Strategy. From digitisation to decarbonisation, we have an important role to play in shaping the future. And by researching or collaborating with us, you can too. The College brings together a powerful combination of scientific expertise, technological innovation, and creative practice. With disciplines spanning computing, AI, data science, engineering, environmental sciences, built environments and psychology - we are uniquely positioned to solve real-world challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Our courses are designed with employability and future industry needs in mind, supported by cutting-edge facilities, strong employer partnerships, and a commitment to sustainability. Through applied research and hands-on learning, we equip students and staff to drive progress in areas that matter most; from smart technology to clean energy, advanced manufacturing to immersive design.

School of Engineering and Built Environment 

The School of Engineering and Built Environment at the University of Derby is a dynamic and future-focused academic community that blends technical excellence with creative innovation. It offers a wide range of programmes across engineering, architecture, construction, and design, preparing students to tackle global challenges in sustainability, infrastructure, and the built environment. The School is home to research-active academics with backgrounds in engineering, architecture, interior design, and construction. Our staff bring real-world experience and academic rigour to the classroom, supporting students in developing both creative portfolios and technical competencies.

The discipline area is located in the University’s STEM annex in Markeaton Street, where staff offices and lab facilities are co-located. Key investments in the last few years include dedicated intelligent instrumentation and smart sensor technologies, robotics, renewable energy, power engineering and advanced materials and manufacturing. The discipline area is actively engaged in knowledge exchange projects and has an active applied research agenda. 

About the Role

Technical colleagues within the College of Science and Engineering support a wide range of specialist resources and activities. Working independently and in collaboration with academics, our technicians play an important role in advancing the work in many of our academic disciplines. We support specialist areas such as laboratories, workshops and controlled environments. We also provide specialist support for Research Centres such as the Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering (IISE), East Midlands Institute of Technology (EMIOT) and the Nuclear Skills Academy (NSA).

You will contribute to laboratory and field-based learning across core civil engineering disciplines, including surveying, structural engineering, geotechnics, and fluid mechanics. Responsibilities will include maintenance, demonstrating technical procedures, preparing equipment and experimental setups, and supporting the delivery of practical classes and fieldwork. An important core aspect of the role will involve the support of surveying activities and field trips. This will include the operation, maintenance, and demonstration of surveying technologies such as robotic total stations, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, terrestrial laser scanners, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), you will also support the processing, management, and presentation of survey data, producing outputs aligned with current industry standards.

About You

You will hold qualification(s) equivalent to a degree in Civil Engineering, Surveying, or a related discipline, or possess comparable knowledge and transferable skills gained through relevant professional experience. The ideal candidate will have significant specialist technical experience within civil engineering, including surveying or site-based measurement activities, preferably gained within an industrial, research, or educational environment. You will be proficient in the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of a wide range of surveying equipment, including total stations, GNSS/GPS equipment, digital levels, laser scanners, and associated data-logging devices. You will therefore also have the ability to train and supervise students and researchers in the correct and safe use of equipment.

You will have a solid understanding of structural engineering principles, geotechnics and fluid mechanics relating to civil engineering applications. This includes experience supporting laboratory or field-based activities, assisting with the preparation and assembly of test setups and data analysis.

A Full UK Driving License (manual) is essential for this role as you will be required to drive the University of Derby vehicles; and hired vehicles (up to 3.5 tonne) to transport equipment between sites. Please note that we are unable to offer adapted vehicles. There is a requirement to load and unload equipment, typically with a maximum weight up to 50kg, with shared lifting processes.

Benefits

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Richard Bostock, Technical team Leader, via R.Bostock@Derby.ac.uk.

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk

Important Information

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Please visit our website for more information.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.

Please find our Safeguarding pages including our Safeguarding Policy here.

Closing Date: 10 Aug 2026

Area: Technical Support

Salary: £32,260 to £36,251 per annum
(for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £42,689 per annum)