Research Associate in Additive Manufacturing

Research Associate in Additive Manufacturing Apply for the Research Associate in Additive Manufacturing role at The University of Sheffield. Overview An exciting opportunity within the Multiscale Materials Informatics and Innovation (M2i2) research group, led by Prof. Hector Basoalto, part of a fully funded programme by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) in collaboration with industry partners including Airbus, GKN and Renishaw. Critical for the implementation of additive manufacturing in industry is the rapid qualification of processes and components. This role focuses on creating a virtual qualification environment, developing microstructure‑based crystal plasticity models, and building surrogate models to accelerate virtual material testing and verification. Responsibilities Develop a virtual qualification environment and generate microstructure‑based crystal plasticity models of additive manufacturing. Develop machine learning models to accelerate virtual material testing and verification. Generate property distributions from process‑induced microstructure variations using the ML models. Work with an extended team to link sensor data simulation with new multi‑scale processes for microstructure/property prediction. Collaborate with fellow researchers implementing digital frameworks on LPBF technologies. Liaise and coordinate with industrial partners to increase LPBF productivity and quality using digitally enabled approaches. Prepare regular project update reports and presentations for industrial partners at technical review meetings. Prioritise activities to achieve objectives agreed with supervisors and project partners. Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of relevant literature. Carry out other duties commensurate with the grade and remit of the post. Person Specification Essential criteria Honours degree (or equivalent) and a PhD or near completion in materials science, engineering, physical science or related discipline. Good understanding of theoretical continuum micromechanics linking microstructure evolution to plasticity. Experience in computational mechanics, especially numerical methods for solving field equations relevant to material mechanics (e.g., Finite Element, FFT). Experience in machine learning and its applications to computational mechanics. Experience in the principles and modelling of Additive Manufacturing. Experience in generating microstructure‑based crystal plasticity models. Experience in multi‑scale process models for microstructure/property prediction. Creative problem‑solving with an appreciation of longer‑term implications. Proactive management of a collaborative project with multiple industry and academic partners. Ability to write technical reports and scientific papers with minimal supervision. Desirable criteria Knowledge of requirements for digital threading and establishing digital workflows between physical and digital platforms. Further Information Grade: 7Salary range: £38,784 – £47,389 per annumDuration: Fixed term until 30 June 2027Line manager: Professor Hector BasoaltoDirect reports: N/AWebsite: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/cmbe Contact: Dr Gavin Baxter, Programme Manager – g.j.baxter@sheffield.ac.uk Next Steps The selection process will take place in December 2025, consisting of a panel interview and a short presentation. Candidates will be informed of progression as soon as possible after the closing date. For support, equipment or adjustments to enable participation, contact Chris Wright at cmbe‑staffing‑contracts@sheffield.ac.uk. Vision We are the University of Sheffield. Our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision. What We Offer A minimum of 41 days 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. Wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel. Staff networks for social interaction, peer support and personal development (Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s, Parent’s). Recognition Awards for outstanding contribution. Commitment to development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with Academic Career Pathways and Professional Services Shared Skills Framework. Generous family‑friendly policies: Paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies. Support for menopause. Paid time off and support for fertility treatment. And more. More details can be found on our benefits page: https://sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to the next stage of the selection process. We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students is detailed at sheffield.ac.uk/vision. Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at The University of Sheffield by 2x #J-18808-Ljbffr