Job Description

Job number

ENG03593

Faculties

Faculty of Engineering

Departments

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Salary or Salary range

48,056 - 56,345 per annum

Location/campus

South Kensington Campus - On site only

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Fixed term

Posting End Date

22 Jul 2025

About the role

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Applications are encouraged for a Research Associate post to work on the A4CLIMATE (Advancing Aeronautics and Aerosol research to Accelerate CLIMATE neutral aviation) project, funded by Horizon Europe. The project is led by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).



A4CLIMATE will accelerate the evidence-based implementation of contrail mitigation measures through contrail management, engine and fuel design. The project will advance fundamental research on aviation emissions and contrail science to inform technology and fuel developments, operational contrail avoidance concepts, and policymaking.



Imperial is leading Work Package 1, which is focussed on contrail ice nucleation in the low-soot regime. This work package has four objectives, to:



Improve the understanding of the role of aerosols and microphysics on contrail formation.

Perform laboratory and ground engine measurements.

Generate new experimental datasets and open-source models for contrail ice formation.

Update the quantification of contrail radiative forcing accounting for volatile particulate matter.

What you would be doing

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You will carry out research programmes that meet the objectives of WP1, which will include collecting experimental data on aircraft emissions, specifically measuring non-volatile and volatile components, and advancing approaches to model the role of vPM in contrail formation and evolution.



In addition to the research tasks, you will undertake project management tasks and assist with coordinating the research efforts of the WP1 partners. You will be expected to submit publications to refereed journals and to attract external research funding.

What we are looking for

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Hold a PhD related to related to aviation and the environment, atmospheric physics, climate science or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience Practical experience within a research environment and / or publication in relevant and refereed journals Practical experience in a broad range of techniques including contrail modelling and experimental aerosol science Knowledge of approaches to modelling aircraft emissions and contrails Excellent verbal and written communication skills Willingness to work as part of a team and to be open-minded and cooperative

What we can offer you

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The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity. Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression. Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes). Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

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This role is a fixed-term, full time post until 30 April 2027.



If you require any further details about the role, please contact Professor Marc Stettler at m.stettler@imperial.ac.uk.



Any queries regarding the application process should be directed to Briony Webb at b.webb@imperial.ac.uk.



Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant.



Full information on the post is available in the job description.



We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds and disabilities. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the interview process and to perform crucial job functions, as well as other support including staff networks. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Available documents

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Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.



If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.



Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.



As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.



This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.



Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.