Research Associate in Hydrogen Embrittlement Modelling

Applications are encouraged for a Research Associate position to work on the prediction of hydrogen-assisted failures using computational methods, on the project titled “Simulation-based assessment of the interplay between hydrogen, defects and plastic straining,” funded by Shell. This role will work under the supervision of Dr Emilio Martínez-Pañeda and be based in the Mechanics of Infrastructure Materials research group.

Hydrogen embrittlement is arguably the biggest threat to the deployment of a hydrogen energy infrastructure and the cause of numerous structural integrity problems in the transport, defence, marine and construction sectors. When exposed to hydrogen, metallic materials exhibit a significant drop in ductility and fracture toughness (of up to 90%). Building upon recent developments in multi-physics modelling and computational fracture mechanics (e.g., phase field), there is an opportunity now to deliver predictions over technologically-relevant scales and map safe regimes of operation.

You will have access to HPC facilities and codes. The initial term will be one year.

Duties and responsibilities

This role will be responsible for conducting finite element analyses to predict the failure of materials and components due to hydrogen assisted cracking. You will be required to have (or develop) a sound understanding of fracture mechanics and combine sophisticated calculations with first-order insight from sound analytical methods. The work will involve use of COMSOL or ABAQUS but it will also be possible to utilise in-house or open-source codes. You will be expected to address both fundamental and applied problems, and to take part in collaborative work including the activities of the research group, as well as to submit publications to reputed journals and liaise with academic collaborators and sponsors.

Essential requirements

• PhD in engineering, mathematics, physics, materials science, or other closely-related fields


• Experience in numerical analysis


• Ability to carry out finite element analysis


• Ability to conduct a detailed review of recent literature


• Willingness to work as part of a team and to be open-minded and cooperative

Further information

This is a full time, fixed term position for 12 months and based at South Kensington Campus.

For informal enquiries about the post please contact Dr Emilio Martínez-Pañeda e.martinez-paneda@imperial.ac.uk

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range £38,194 - £41,388 per annum.

Please make sure to upload a CV and a cover letter.

Further information is available in the job description.

Any queries regarding the application process should be addressed to Briony Webb at b.webb@imperial.ac.uk.

The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/

The College believes that the use of animals in research is vital to improve human and animal health and welfare. Animals may only be used in research programmes where their use is shown to be necessary for developing new treatments and making medical advances. Imperial is committed to ensuring that, in cases where this research is deemed essential, all animals in the College’s care are treated with full respect, and that all staff involved with this work show due consideration at every level. http://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-integrity/animal-research/

• Job Description Research Associate ENG02652.pdf