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KTP Associate in advancing self-healing concrete solutions for wastewater infrastructure
Requisition ID: 27858
Location: Newcastle, GB
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Working Pattern: Full Time
Posted Date: 8 Jan 2025
Salary: £37,099 (plus substantial training budget) per annum
Closing Date: 29 January 2025
The Role
Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) and Newcastle University are offering an exciting opportunity to develop the use of self-healing cementitious materials for sustainable enhancement and durability of concrete structures in the water sector. You will be part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project which aims to bridge the gap in understanding how self-healing materials perform beyond the laboratory, enabling collaboration between the academic team and the company to evaluate and optimize the technology’s performance in real-world environments.
You will assess self-healing concrete’s alignment with NWL business goals and analyse economic benefits. You will review regulatory requirements and oversee the construction and installation of a pilot structure and its monitoring. You will also work on embedding advanced modelling techniques into current process simulations to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency.
Based at NWG Durham, you will work closely with an interdisciplinary team from Newcastle University's School of Engineering, led by Dr Dana Ofiteru and Prof Jaime Amezaga, Additionally, you will benefit from the guidance of Prof. Kevin Paine from the University of Bath, a leading UK researcher in self-healing concrete. You will also be supported by a senior supervisor from NWG.
The role is fixed term for 24 months.
Responsibilities
* Analyse historical data on water waste and repair costs in NWG wastewater infrastructure
* Evaluate the strategic alignment between NWG business goals and self-healing concrete applications
* Perform economic analysis comparing traditional and self-healing concrete
* Review regulatory requirements applicable to the use of self-healing concrete wastewater infrastructure
* Select the most suitable site for testing self-healing concrete
* Produce and monitor different samples formulations when exposed to wastewater conditions.
* Oversee the construction, installation and monitoring of a pilot structure including self-healing concrete
* Deliver workshops and training sessions to introduce NWG staff to the fundamentals of individual based modelling and its applications in biofilms and self-healing concrete.
* Disseminate and embed the knowledge to various stakeholders throughout the KTP via reports, presentations, group discussions and workshops.
* Prepare publications, case studies and attend conferences.
The Person
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
* A good knowledge and understanding of building materials, and in particular cement/concrete
* A good knowledge of self-healing options for construction materials
* Experience with experimental design and data analysis
* Experience in modelling and simulation of biological processes
* Track record of publishing in high-impact journals and presenting at conferences
* Experience in the analysis of data and business case development
* Understanding of and ability to analyse complex biological systems
* Working in a multidisciplinary environment
Attributes and Behaviour
* Personal motivation and drive.
* Excellent organisational and planning skills.
* Thrives in a project environment with the ability to work to tight deadlines.
* The ability to work independently and collaboratively with colleagues.
* The ability to work autonomously and the confidence to lead.
* Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate at all levels to different stakeholder groups in both academia and industry.
* Is a natural problem solver.
* Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills.
Qualifications / Experience
Candidates should hold a PhD in chemical, biochemical, environmental, or civil engineering, or a related field, with a good understanding of modelling biological processes. They should also demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and applying innovative solutions to address complex engineering challenges.
Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
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