Research Fellow in Offshore Geotechnics - TAILWIND

We are seeking a Post-doctoral Research Fellow to work on the TAILWIND project, based at the University of Southampton, on a fixed-term contract of up to 3 years.

The Research Fellow will support the development of new anchoring technologies for floating offshore wind turbines. Your role will focus primarily on geotechnical centrifuge modelling of anchors and you will contribute to the development of simplified computational models.

TAILWIND is a multi-disciplinary international research project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme, led by the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), in collaboration with 2 other Universities and 8 industrial partners. The project aims to drive down the costs of floating units and mooring systems by advancing key station-keeping technologies. TAILWIND will adopt sustainable-by-design approaches and ensure scalability of the solution to meet the growth demand for offshore renewable energy.

We are seeking candidates with a background in civil engineering, preferably with experience in geotechnical physical, analytical and/or numerical modelling. You will be responsible for undertaking centrifuge testing of novel anchors and for supporting the development of a simplified computational model, suited to integrated system modelling.

You will be involved in the holistic design of floating wind systems as part of a large team with expertise spanning mooring lines, floating platforms and anchors, with both academic and industry perspectives. You will have many opportunities to expand your network, both in academia and industry, through project meetings, workshops and conferences.

You will be based at the new National Infrastructure Laboratory on the University’s Boldrewood Innovation Campus, and you will be embedded within a professional network addressing the ocean challenges and decarbonisation as part of the Southampton Marine & Maritime Institute (SMMI).

We offer an attractive research environment on our new Boldrewood campus, the latest facilities and access to a variety of staff development opportunities.

More information about the project can be found here: TAILWIND

You are invited to contact Dr Benjamin Cerfontaine (b.cerfontaine@soton.ac.uk) for further information about this position in advance of submitting your application.

Applicants are required to have a PhD or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in a relevant discpline*.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to the ethos in the School of Engineering. We give full consideration to applicants who wish to work flexibly including part-time and due consideration will be given to applicants who have taken a career break. The University has onsite childcare facilities and we foster a good work-life balance. We also offer a mentorship programme and the school runs a women-oriented network event on a bi-weekly basis.

The University of Southampton is in the top 1% of world universities and the top 10 of the UK’s research-intensive universities. We are committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible university, with the principles of sustainability embedded into all aspects of our individual and collective work, in our business planning, policy-making, and professional activities.

Applications will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon completion of PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.