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You will be updated with latest job alerts via emailDirectorate:School of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Grade:Grade
Contract Type:Full Time 1FTE) Fixed Term 24 Months)
Rewards and Benefits:33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday) for all full time staff. Use our total rewards calculator: to see the value of benefits provided by HeriotWatt University.
Detailed Description
The Post Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) will work ondeveloping and demonstrating laserbased processingof additively manufactured parts specifically laserbased polishing of AM parts and ultrafastlaserwelding of optical laser components to AM parts.
This is an integral aspect of the project Complete Additive Manufacturing of a Laser Chassis which is part of the Making Challenge of the Smart Products Made Smarter Prosperity Partnership between HeriotWatt University University of Edinburgh and Leonardo UK. major project of the partnership is focused on thedesign manufacture and test of a future industrial laser chassis utilising powderbed laser fusion metal additive manufacturing (AM) and advanced laserbased manufacturing. The project is split into three areas: 1. Optical mechanical and thermal design of a compact and robust laser exploiting the existing capabilities of additive manufacturing; 2. Testing and analysing new concepts on metal 3D printed parts; 3. Developing and demonstrating laserbased processing of additively manufactured parts specifically laserbased polishing of AM parts and ultrafastlaserwelding of optical laser components to AM parts. This last aspect is the core responsibility of the new PDRA post.
The project is in close collaboration with Leonardo engineers and university colleagues who will jointly execute some of the project tasks. The PDRA will liaise with metal AM suppliers and the University of Edinburgh project team responsible for AM process development.
The successful candidate will be required to rapidly embrace the body of knowledge vested in the research teams and will grasp the technical challenges of developing and demonstrating laserbased processing of additively manufactured parts.
Research Environment
They will work directly with Prof M J Daniel Esser (project lead) Dr Richard Carter and Prof Duncan Hand at HeriotWatt University the Leonardo engineers involved in the project and Dr Sam TammasWilliams and Prof Jonathan Corney from University of Edinburgh. They will also work with PhD students and the other PDRAs of the Prosperity Partnership.
The PDRA will report on project progress and outcomes to the Prosperity Partnership Management Group as well as participating in Knowledge Transfer Meetings and Workshops with a broad range of Leonardo personnel.
Most of the project will be executed in the Highpower Laser Applications Laboratories in the National Robotarium at HeriotWatt University in Edinburgh with some joint work also executed in the Laser Development Laboratories at HeriotWatt the Additive Manufacturing research facilities at University of Edinburgh as well as on the manufacturing site at Leonardo UK Edinburgh.
Leonardo is one of the UKs leading aerospace companies and one of biggest suppliers of defence and security equipment to the UK MOD.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Is there room to grow We encourage our researchers to find and follow their passion. We offer fantastic opportunities for learning development and professional growth. This project will provide handson insight into and potentially lead to career opportunities at Leonardo. This is a chance of reinventing and developing your technical skillset during this exciting challenging project. Learning on the job isnt just a benefit its a must.
Essential criteria: Nationality Residency & Place of Work
This appointment is in partnership with Leonardo and will require the candidate being able to demonstrate eligibility for UK Security Clearance. This generally requires the candidate to a UK National or have UK Residency with a right to work in the UK. Citizenship status (including any dual citizenship) must be indicated in the application on the CV and cover letter.
This is a campusbased role that is not suitable for remote working: Must be able to work as part of a team on the experiments at HeriotWatt University in Edinburgh and take part in facetoface meetings & workshops with the collaborators of the project.
Education Qualifications and Experience
Education & Qualifications: Essential Criteria
Skills & Experience: Essential Criteria
Education & Qualifications: Desirable Criteria
Skills & Experience: Desirable Criteria
About our Team
HeriotWatt University is leading the development of highpower lasers with potential applications in industrial material processing and defence. Also HeriotWatt is pioneering the development of laserbased manufacturing processes and applications and successfully transferring these to a wide range of industrial sectors.
The Laser Device Physics & Engineering group under the lead of Prof Esser drives the research and development of new laser sources in the nearinfrared and midIR demonstrating and exploiting new highbrightness diode laser technologies novel solidstate laser crystals and new manufacturing and assembly methods applied to laser system design and assembly.
The High Power Laser Applications (HPLA) group under the lead of Prof Hand and Dr Carter is part of the dynamic multinational Applied Optics and Photonics Group (AOP: at HeriotWatt University. The HPLA group uses a wide range of laser sources (from CW through to ultrashort pulsed lasers) to address research challenges in laserbased manufacturing.
Leonardo is the UKs largest manufacturer of the sensors and electronic systems which sit under the skin of the worlds most advanced aircraft effectively acting as their brains senses and nervous systems. Protecting pilots alerting air crews to threats and providing unrivalled situational awareness our worldclass engineering and technology informs decisionmaking and helps ensure that those in harms way come home safely. The Edinburgh site is home to Leonardos worldleading laser capability with their engineers meeting around 80 of the global demand for highenergy military lasers.
Travel
Local travel to technical and review meetings with our partners the University of Edinburgh and Leonardo on their sites in Edinburgh. There may also be longer periods spent working at these other sites.
Annual national conference 23 days within the UK) and at least 1 international conference 1 week) are also expected.
About HeriotWatt
HeriotWatt University has established a reputation for worldclass teaching and leadingedge relevant research which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation business and industry.
Nearly 30000 students study with HeriotWatt across business engineering design and the social physical biological and sports sciences. Our student body is roughly split evenly between the UK our two campuses in Dubai and Malaysia and online with the latter being distributed across almost all the countries of the world. We also have many partnerships with other institutions worldwide who award HeriotWatt degrees.
The School of Engineering & Physical Sciences has an international research reputation and close connection with the professional and industrial world of science engineering and technology.Our research ranges from fundamental sciences through to engineering applications all of which are supported by strong external funding.We have around 150 fulltime academic staff who drive this research activity and are based in 5 research institutes:the Institute of Chemical Sciences the Institute of Photonics & Quantum Sciences the Institute of Mechanical Process & Energy Engineering the Institute of Sensors Signals & Systems and the Institute of Biological Chemistry BioPhysics & BioEngineering. REF2014 named HeriotWatt in the top 25 of UK universities with 82 of our research ranked as worldleading or internationally excellent. HeriotWatt ranked 9th university in the UK and 1st in Scotland for research impact.
The School of Engineering & Physical Sciences has received the Bronze Award from the Athena SWAN Charter recognising excellence in championing employment of women in the fields of science and technology engineering and mathematics.
In addition we deliver teaching across 6 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes: Chemistry; Physics; Electrical Electronic & Computer Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering and Brewing & Distilling. In the 2019 National Student Survey HeriotWatt University was ranked 35th in the UK. 90 of our students were satisfied overall with their course in over half of the Universitys subject areas. At subject area level the School ranked in the top 10 UK universities for Physics and we were 3rd in Scotland for Chemistry and 2nd for Mechanical Engineering and 1st in Scotland for Chemical Engineering.
How to Apply
Please submit via the HeriotWatt online recruitment system 1 Cover letter describing their interest and how they comply to the essential / desired criterial for the post; 2 Full CV including Citizenship / UK Residency status.
Applications can be submitted until midnight on Monday 26 May 2025.
For further information and an informal discussion about the post please contact Prof Daniel Esser via email
At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with wellbeing and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
HeriotWattUniversity is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected trained promoted appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
HeriotWattUniversity values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information please see our website also our awardwinning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. parttime working and job share options.
Use our total rewards calculator: see the value of benefits provided by HeriotWatt University.
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Full-Time