Job Description

Job Title:

Research Associate: Validation of LPBF for Digital Process Control

Posting Start Date:

24/04/2025

Job Id:

1010

School/Department:

Chemical, Materials & Biological Eng

Work Arrangement:

Full Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type:

Fixed-term

Salary per annum ():

38,249 - 46,735

Closing Date:

15/05/2025
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.


We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Overview

An exciting opportunity for a research associate exists within the Additive Manufacturing research group, led by Prof. Iain Todd, at the University of Sheffield. The role is part of a collaborative programme of research funded by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) with several Industry partners, including Airbus, GKN and Renishaw.


Critical for the implementation of additive manufacturing (AM) in industry is the rapid qualification of processes and components. For the aerospace industry, and the stringent safety regulations imposed, certification can become a significant barrier to the introduction of new technologies with significant costs and time necessary. Digital transformations to process control and design can enable meaningful acceleration of the qualification processes. This research will underpin the generation of data-driven digital process control methodologies for quality control by performing process monitoring and metallographic evaluation assessments of experimental Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) builds and providing feedback to control model development. Ensuring that the methodologies developed are transferrable between LPBF platforms and partners will be a key aspect of the research. This work will complement the digital qualification methodologies being developed in the consortium by fellow researchers at Sheffield University.

Main duties and responsibilities

Undertake the required training and health and safety protocols for accessing the LPBF systems at the Royce in Sheffield. Work as part of a team to create tailored experimental LPBF builds from which process and monitoring data can be used to develop machine agnostic process control methodologies. Perform metallographic and non-destructive assessment of LPBF builds to assess and classify build quality for feedback into the design loop. Ensure that data from process monitoring methods is understood, reliable and repeatable by comparing the monitored data with measured feature analysis within the LPBF builds. Assess the build quality of parts generated through control model algorithms. Validate that methodologies developed are transferrable between different LPBF platforms through evaluation of parts generated on alternative build platforms. Refine the models based on feedback from industry trials. Assist in the development, evaluation and feedback on quality of LPBF builds facilitated using closed-loop control methods. Liaise, coordinate and collaborate with the industrial partners that are aiming to increase their LPBF productivity and quality. Generate regular project update reports and presentations and deliver them to the industrial partners at appropriate technical review meetings either online or in person, as appropriate. Prioritise activities to achieve objectives agreed with the supervisors and project partners. Maintain up to date knowledge of relevant literature and report findings to industry partners. Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.




Essential criteria


Have a good honours degree (or equivalent experience) and hold a PhD or be close to completion (or have equivalent experience) of a PhD, in materials science, engineering or physical science or any other relevant discipline. (assessed at: application/interview). Experience in the underlying principles and operation of Additive Manufacturing equipment. (assessed at: application/interview) Demonstrable knowledge of analysis methods that may be used to evaluate and qualify LPBF build quality (destructive and non-destructive) and provide data sets for control models. (assessed at: application/interview) Ability to help and be proactive in the management of a collaborative project that has multiple industry and academic partners. (assessed at: application/interview) Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, report writing skills, experience of delivering presentations to both academic and industrial partners. (assessed at: application/interview) The ability to write technical reports and scientific papers with minimal supervision. (assessed at: application/interview) Experience of working and communicating with a team of staff and in developing and maintaining a network of contacts throughout your own work area. (assessed at: application/interview)





Desirable criteria


Familiar with Process Monitoring tools, feature detection methods, data extraction techniques and assessing the transferability of data between systems and platforms. (assessed at: application/interview) Experience in validating process model outputs with experimental data and analysis. (assessed at: application/interview)

Further Information

Grade: 7

Duration:

Fixed term until 30.06.2027

Line manager:

Professor Iain Todd

Direct reports:

N/A

Our website:

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/cmbe




For informal enquiries about this job contact


Dr Gavin Baxter, Programme Manager, on g.j.baxter

@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in May 2025. This will consist of a panel interview and a short presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage as soon as possible after the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Amanda Temple at cmbe-postaward@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().

What we offer

A minimum of 41days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more. Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles. Generous pension scheme. A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel. A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks). Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role. A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways / Professional Services Shared Skills Framework. A range of generous family-friendly policies + paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
+ support for those going through the menopause
+ paid time off and support for fertility treatment
+ and more




We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.



We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.