Job Description

A position exists, for a Research Assistant/Associate in the Department of Engineering, to work on research in electric road freight.
The role is based in Central Cambridge within the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight (SRF, ), a leading centre focusing on reducing energy use and emissions from the road freight sector. The post holder will be located in Central Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK.
The key responsibilities and duties are:

• Conducting independent and team-based research into various aspects of the electrification of long-haul road freight system.
• Developing mathematical models to understand the operational performance of electric heavy goods vehicles, particularly electric road systems.
• Developing mathematical models to understand and analyse the implications of different electrification pathways to road freight electrifications.
• Modelling and analysis of total cost of ownership of electric logistics operations with a variety of charging solutions, including static and dynamic charging, battery swapping and pony-express.
• Designing in-service data-collection, tests and experiments to validate models and analysis.
• Compiling quantitative and qualitative data, preparing reports to summarise main findings and conclusions.
• Leading and coordinating in-service data collection from of electric heavy goods vehicles
• Writing project milestone reports and project final report.
• Attending project meetings, workshops and conferences.
• Engaging with and presenting research outcome to stakeholders.
• Publishing peer-reviewed research articles in internationally renowned journals.
• Co-supervising undergraduate projects.
• Providing research support PhD students.
• Supporting project management.

The skills, qualifications and experience required to perform the role are:

• Must hold or be close to the completion of a PhD in mechanical engineering, with direct relevance to road freight electrification.
• Strong theoretical and practical understanding of road freight electrification and electric road systems across the world.
• Expertise in technological and economic modelling and analysis of road freight electrification.
• Real-world experience in measuring operational performance of electric heavy goods vehicles.
• Ability to collect and process in-service electric heavy goods vehicle operational data.
• Strong communication skills including the ability to work in a team and to liaise closely with colleagues, administrative staff, technical staff, equipment suppliers and boarder industrial partners.
• Excellent presentation and academic writing skills.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD (or equivalent experience). Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.
Salary Ranges: Research Assistant: 33,002 - 35,608 Research Associate: 37,694 - 46,049
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 24 months in the first instance.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter [add up to 3 further documents needed e.g. research publication list] in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.
If you have any questions about this vacancy please contact Dr Na (xnhn2@cam.ac.uk) or for questions about the application process, please contact Elizabeth Howard (eh301@cam.ac.uk.)
Please quote reference NM47368 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Further information

Skills Required