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 August 2026


Closing date: 12th August 2025

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.


The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.


We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.


We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.


Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.


The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.


Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham

Background

We are seeking a Research Fellow to support the development and application of quantum technology-based gravity gradient sensors. The successful candidate will focus on the analysis and inversion of gravity gradient data, contribute to the development of data interfaces for multi-modal sensor integration, and perform advanced data processing and inference to support subsurface imaging and interpretation. This role will involve working closely with civil engineers, computational modellers, Physicists, and geophysicists to translate raw sensor outputs into actionable insights.

Role Summary

Lead data analysis and inversion of gravity gradient data from quantum technology sensors Develop data interfaces to enable integration with multi-modal sensing platforms Apply advanced data inference techniques to support subsurface imaging and interpretation Collaborate with physicists, engineers, and geoscientists to enhance sensor usability Contribute to real-world applications in geophysics, civil infrastructure, and environmental monitoring Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids Operate within area of specialism 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.


Perform advanced analysis, modelling, and inversion of gravity gradient data from quantum technology sensors Design and implement data interfaces to support integration of data from quantum sensors with data from other geophysical instruments Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to interpret data and validate inversion results against ground truth or models Contribute to publications, reports, and presentations, and support project coordination and stakeholder engagement Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required 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, 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

A degree in physics, engineering, computer science, and mathematics is essential. Expertise in data analysis and inversion, Proven experience with geophysical, physical, or sensor data analysis, including inversion techniques and signal processing. Strong programming skills, Proficiency in scientific computing (e.g. Python, MATLAB, or similar) for algorithm development and data handling. Experience with sensor integration or multi-modal data, Ability to work with and develop interfaces for complex or hybrid sensing systems. Excellent interdisciplinary communication - Strong collaborative skills to work effectively with physicists, engineers, and geoscientists. First degree in area of specialism

and

normally, a higher degree relevant to research area or equivalent qualifications 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

Informal enquiries to Asaad Faramarzi, email: a.faramarzi@bham.ac.uk


View our staff values and behaviours here

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

.