Research Fellow in Digital Manufacturing

The School of Computing, Engineering, and the Built Environment (SCEBE) are looking for postdoctoral researcher to work with us full Time (35 hours), fixed term (until 30 October 2024) on a collaborative EPSRC funded research project to improve manufacturing operations. The position may be extended for further six months based on funding availability.

You will have the opportunity to work alongside an enthusiastic and interdisciplinary research team as well as renowned academics and researchers at the University of Strathclyde and University of Edinburgh. This collaborative project aims to develop advanced digital technologies and methods to automate the capture and interpretation of activity data in manufacturing operations to identify opportunities for improvements in efficiency, productivity, and sustainability.

For more information about the project, see our EPSRC website and see some of our recent publications:

• Aslan, A., Vasantha, G., El-Raoui, H., Quigley, J., Hanson, J., Corney, J., & Sherlock, A. (2023). Hierarchical ensemble deep learning for data-driven lead time prediction. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 1-20.
• Aslan, A., El-Raoui, H., Hanson, J., Vasantha, G., Quigley, J., Corney, J., & Sherlock, A. (2023). Using worker position data for human-driven decision support in labour-intensive manufacturing. Sensors, 23(10), 4928.

The School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment (SCEBE) has a long history of innovative research, working with both industry specialists and the government on cutting edge projects that are internationally renowned and world leading.

Further information about the School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment can be found here. Additional facts and figures on the University can be found here.  

The role

The Research Fellow will join the School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment (SCEBE) and work under Dr Gokula Vasantha's supervision on an EPSRC–funded project along with a highly competitive and multidisciplinary team. The role involves:

• Proactively engage with collaborating researchers to coordinate manufacturing activity data collection from sensor networks in the laboratory and industrial environments.
• Conduct data analysis that includes removing noises, extracting key features and patterns, identifying relationships between parameters, and predicting manufacturing performance.
• Support the creation and use of digital simulation of the manufacturing processes recorded.
• Disseminate research findings through jointly authored internal reports, conference proceedings, and journal publications.
• Ensure the project's datasets are documented and processed as defined by the project's data management plan.

For a detailed role description, please click here. Informal inquiries can be made to Dr Gokula Vasantha - G.Vasantha@napier.ac.uk.

What are we looking for

Essential requirements:

• Masters (or equivalent qualification) in a related area of engineering (manufacturing or mechanical or mechatronics or operation research or systems engineering).
• Track record of research in studying and modelling manufacturing activities and data analytics (i.e. data mining and pattern recognition methods).
• Competent in system modelling simulation software (such as SimUl8, FactoryIO), and statistical packages (such as SPSS).
• Some experience in software development (preferably Python).
• Experience delivering research project results in digital manufacturing, i.e. a record of peer-reviewed journal and conference papers in a relevant area.
• Capable of working collaboratively with researchers from different disciplines or technical backgrounds.
• Good communication skills; oral, writing and presentation of data.

Desirable requirements:

• A PhD in a related area of engineering (manufacturing or mechanical or mechatronics or operation research or systems engineering).
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships.
• Good timekeeping and time-management, with associated effective prioritisation of tasks.
• Ability to be adaptive and accepting of new ideas and a willingness to approach new challenges and adjusts plans to meet new priorities.
• Practical experience of working in an industrial environment.
• Engage in continuous professional development.

Benefits we offer

Salary: £36,024-£44,263 per annum, pro rata (Grade 5) 

As the #1 Modern University in Scotland, Edinburgh Napier is here to make a difference. This is only possible because of the people that work here – it’s our people that make us great. And with our people at the heart of what we do, it’s important that you are supported and rewarded.

We are committed to providing a wide range of benefits including:

• minimum of 41 days annual leave (pro-rata)
• employer pension contributions of 20.8%
• a wide range of learning and development opportunities
• opportunity to join our staff inclusion and support networks
• access to our benefits platform Vivup which includes huge range of discounts across the UK’s major retailers, health care discounts and Cycle to Work (click here for more info)
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

For more information on our benefits, click here.

Edinburgh Napier is committed to creating an environment where everyone feels proud, confident, challenged and supported and are holders of Disability Confident, Carer Positive and Stonewall Diversity Champion status. Please see here for more information