Assistant Professor in Aerospace Engineering

Heriot-Watt University

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Detailed Description

We are looking for talented and highly motivated individuals to contribute to teaching and research in Aerospace Engineering, as part of the Institute of Mechanical, Process & Energy Engineering (IMPEE), School of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS). You will have evidence of developing an international research portfolio and should possess a clear research vision in Aerospace Engineering and related areas. The applications should concern research and/or teaching experience in Aerospace Engineering with demonstrated research and educational specialisation in either one or more of these topics:

Aerospace vehicle design;
Aerospace structures and materials;
Autonomous flight systems;
Supersonic flight;
Artificial intelligence;
Electric propulsion;
Astrodynamics and astronautics.

You will have opportunities for the development of an independent research portfolio, in collaboration with our existing research groups across the School.

You will also be involved in teaching and learning activities in the Mechanical Engineering discipline of the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) at the Edinburgh Campus, delivering and assessing undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at our Edinburgh campus in collaboration with colleagues at our overseas campuses in Dubai and Malaysia.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Work activities will vary according to the requirements of the job and individual areas of teaching and research responsibility, however general responsibilities are typically, but not restricted to, the following:

Leading and engaging in research and actively contributing to the university’s research profile, including managing, and supervising and mentoring research-active staff where appropriate;
Actively pursuing research funding through the submission of high-quality grant proposals;
Establishing collaborative research and teaching links outside the university via funding councils, industry, business, and public bodies;
Developing cross-Research Institute, School, University, and external research links and networks, with a view to maximising research funding opportunities and associated activities;
Contributing to School, Institute and research group strategic planning where required, as well as carrying out general research administration;
Publicising research through the preparation and submission of journal and conference papers and participating in academic conferences;
Representing the institution in a professional capacity, particularly with regard to research dissemination and development e.g. conferences, meetings, with industrial partners, etc.;
Supervising and mentoring undergraduate students, postgraduate students and research associates’ research work;
Teaching through the delivery of lectures, tutorials and laboratories, assessing the relevant students’ work as well as setting and marking examinations and coursework;
Designing and developing teaching materials and new teaching methods, using personal research to inform teaching where appropriate;
Carrying out general academic administration, including participation on committees and exam boards, taking responsibility for key discipline-specific administration tasks and mentoring students;
Undertaking continuous professional development (CPD) and participating in staff development activities.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential Criteria

First degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline;
PhD within the area of Aerospace or related engineering (e.g. Mechanical Engineering);
Demonstrated research portfolio within the field of Aerospace Engineering in either one or more of the following specialisations:
- Aerospace vehicle design;
- Aerospace structures and materials;
- Autonomous flight systems;
- Supersonic flight;
- Artificial intelligence;
- Electric propulsion;
- Astrodynamics and astronautics.
Demonstrated initiative in obtaining research funding;
Research portfolio complementary to Heriot-Watt’s approach to impact-led projects;
Demonstrable track-record of high-quality research published in internationally renowned journals;
Evidence of teaching and assessment of undergraduate and graduate engineering students in aerospace engineering topics, with priority given to either one or more of the seven specialisations listed above;
Evidence of general academic research leadership (can be initiating joint proposals, influencing colleagues to work in teams, etc.);
Effective and engaging communicator;
Good oral and written presentation skills.

Desirable Criteria

CEng or working towards CEng status;
Demonstrates evidence of willingness to be involved in collaborative research;
Demonstrates willingness to participate in international delivery of programmes;
Evidence of leadership of research teams, including successful supervision of PhD students and managing post-Docs;
Experience of playing and/or developing a significant role in collaborative academic-industrial research projects.

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