Research Associate

The Advanced Mineral Processing Research Group is seeking a Research Associate to contribute to the development and implementation of Computational Fluid Dynamics models to study the flotation of minerals from their ores. This work will build on existing modelling capabilities from the group in this area, specifically in a massively parallel Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) multiphase simulator.

You will also carry out simulations to study the effect of equipment design and operating conditions on the behaviour of the different phases involved (liquid, air and mineral particles) in novel flotation equipment, and ultimately. The aim is to generate a better understanding of these system in order to enhance mineral recovery/ metallurgical performance. As part of your research activities, you will collaborate closely with industry and academic partners to validate the models at different scales.

You will join a dynamic research team with expertise in both computational modelling and mineral processing, and will be involved in the development and application of novel modelling tools in the area of sustainable mineral separation processes.

Duties and responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• To develop and implement Computational Fluid Dynamics models for the simulation of multiphase phenomena in flotation equipment
• To enhance existing code, identifying opportunities for further developments and  capabilities
• To apply the above tools to the modelling and optimisation of multiphase, three-dimensional flotation equipment
• To take initiatives in the planning of research
• To identify requirements of experimental data for validation purposes
• To conduct data analysis
• To ensure the validity and reliability of data at all times
• To maintain accurate and complete records of all findings
• To write reports for submission to research sponsors
• To present findings to colleagues and at conferences
• To submit publications to refereed journals
• To provide guidance to staff and students
• To attend relevant workshops and conferences as necessary
• To develop contacts and research collaborations within the College and the wider community
• To promote the reputation of the Group, the Department and the College
• To provide guidance to PhD Students
• Contribute to bids for research grant
• To conduct and plan own scientific work with appropriate supervision
• To maintain highly organised and accurate record of experimental Work

Essential requirements

• Hold, or be near completion of, a PhD in Computational Physics, Chemical Engineering/Mineral Processing 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
• Experience developing, verifying and validating multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamics models, ideally Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics
• Excellent knowledge of C++ 
• Creative approach to problem-solving
• Excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to deal with a wide range of people
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to write clearly and succinctly for publication

Please see the Job Description for a full list of requirements. Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and the postholder may be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Further information

This is a full time, fixed term contract for up to 3 years and based at South Kensington Campus. 

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range £38,194 – £41,388 per annum.

For any queries relating to the recruitment process, please contact Cindy Valuto ([email protected])

The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/

The College believes that the use of animals in research is vital to improve human and animal health and welfare. Animals may only be used in research programmes which are ultimately aimed towards finding new treatments and making scientific and medical advances, and where there are no satisfactory or reasonably practical alternatives to their use. Imperial is committed to ensuring that, in cases where this research is deemed essential, all animals in the College’s care are treated with full respect, and that all staff involved with this work show due consideration at every level.Find out more about animal research at Imperial .

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