Research Fellow – School of Chemical Engineering – 107339 – Grade 7 Full-time

Researcher Position at University of Birmingham

School of Chemical Engineering

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 7, salary £37,694.

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to December 2027

Closing date: 4th May 2026

UK travel may be required for this role

Birmingham Centre for Energy Storage (BCES) is a cross-campus research centre with its hub in the School of Chemical Engineering. It unites researchers from various disciplines to advance both fundamental and applied research in clean energy conversion, storage and utilization, as well as industrial decarbonisation, covering novel materials, devices and systems, alongside multiscale modelling, process scale-up, and manufacturing technologies and policy analysis.

Role Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher to join the University of Birmingham Centre for Energy Storage (BCES) and the School of Chemical Engineering. This position focuses on multiscale multiphase modelling and associated experimental validation, at the device and system levels, of energy conversion and storage technologies, particularly thermal and thermo-mechanical energy storage, including Carnot Batteries, Liquid Air Energy Storage and Compressed Gas Storage.

The postholder will be part of a large team and is expected to play a key role in developing novel and application-oriented solutions, using energy storage technologies, to address challenges associated with intermittency of renewable generation, low energy and resource efficiency, high cost of heating and cooling, and industrial decarbonisation.

This appointment will be for 18 months in the first instance.

Main Duties

The main responsibilities of the postholder will include:

• Device-scale modelling and experiments: Design, modelling, and optimise thermal and thermo-mechanical energy storage devices using appropriate tools including but not limiting to computational fluid mechanics (CFD) software. Build and perform experiments on the optimised devices to validate models at the device levels, in collaboration with other researchers.
• System-scale modelling and validation: Develop and simulate integrated systems consisting of, but not limited to, thermal and thermo-mechanical energy storage, including Carnot Batteries, Liquid Air Energy Storage and Compressed Gas Storage. Optimise system configurations, considering waste energy recovery and sector coupling, to improve energy and resource efficiencies and enable multi-functional capabilities. Contribute to the design, construction, and experimental testing of the optimised systems with optimised devices and validate the system-level models, in collaboration with other researchers.
• Techno-economic analysis and multi-objective optimisation: Conduct techno-economic analyses of the integrated energy conversion and storage systems. Evaluate both thermodynamic and economic performance. Apply suitable optimisation methods, algorithms, and software tools to optimise system design and operation, for cost and carbon emissions reduction across different application scenarios.
• Interaction and Collaboration: Interact closely with the project team members and collaborators, including but not limited to those working on materials development and manufacturing, devices and system design and construction, and experimental testing, to ensure smooth information and materials flows; Conduct data analysis and interpretation. And when needed, interact with collaborators and funders, and effectively and efficiently communicate the findings.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Research Dissemination: Contribute to research publications, reports, and presentations to share findings with the scientific community and stakeholders, subject to confidentiality terms.
• Guidance and Support: Provide support and guidance as required to support staff and students who may be assisting with the research.
• Student Supervision: Supervise students at both UG and PG levels on research related to the work and discipline.
• Research Management: Undertake management/administration tasks needed for the research.
• Departmental Engagement: Engage in Departmental/School research-related activities and administration.
• Enterprise and Public Engagement: Participate in enterprise, business development, and public engagement activities beneficial to the College and the University, typically under the supervision of a project leader.
• Promotion of Inclusivity: Promote equality, values diversity, and foster an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• Hold or be close to the completion of a PhD on a topic on modelling with experimental validation of thermal, or thermo-mechanical energy conversion and storage devices and systems.
• Good underpinning degree (2:1 and above) in relevant science and engineering disciplines, for example: thermal engineering, chemical and process engineering, energy engineering, physics and chemistry.
• Proven track record in at least four of (i) design, optimisation and modelling of thermal or thermo-mechanical energy conversion and storage devices; (ii) configuration, optimisation and modelling of energy storage systems; (iii) techno-economic analysis of energy conversion and storage systems; (iv) multi-objective optimisation for system design and operation; (v) AI-driven design and optimisation at the device and/or system level; (vi) hands on experiences in design, construction testing of thermal or thermo-mechanical energy conversion and storage devices;and (vii)hands on experiences in design, construction testing of thermal or thermo-mechanical energy conversion and storage systems.
• A high-level understanding of thermodynamics and/or transport phenomena in thermal-mechanical and thermochemical conversion and storage processes.
• Proven research capabilities in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and system-level modelling, with hands-on experience using relevant software tools such as ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL Multiphysics, MATLAB/Simulink, and Aspen Plus, Python or Aspen HYSYS.
• Demonstratable track record in academic publications, delivery of project outcomes and outputs that are recognised within the field.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in a diverse, international and cross disciplinary research and development environment.
• High level analytical capability.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively.
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.

Informal enquiries to Tongtong Zhang, email: t.zhang.7@bham.ac.uk

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.