Senior Research Fellow in Power and Railway Engineering

University of Leeds; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - GBP 70,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in the UK is seeking a Senior Research Fellow in Power and Railway Engineering to lead innovative research projects. This role requires a well-established expert with over 20 years of experience in power and railway engineering, capable of supervising teams and engaging with industrial partners. You will manage funding activities, contribute to cross-sector system modelling, and promote impactful research. The position offers hybrid working opportunities and a generous benefits package.

Benefits

26 days holiday plus approx. 16 Bank Holidays

Discounted gym membership

Access to professional development courses

On-site childcare and shopping discounts

Qualifications

• 20+ years of industrial experience in power and railway engineering.
• Expertise in smart grid/railway electrification.
• Strong record in securing research funding.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a team of researchers and engineers.
• Lead impact, innovation and funding activities.
• Engage with industrial partners on research relevance.

Skills

Leadership in research

Cross-sector system modelling

Data analysis in power systems

Team supervision

Education

PhD in Engineering or related field

Job description

Senior Research Fellow in Power and Railway Engineering (3 positions)

Are you a leading expert in power and railway engineering, with a career defined by shaping the future of energy and transport? Have you had 20+ years of industrial experience with a legacy of leadership in research and innovation in smart grid/railway electrification?

You will be joining an exciting consortium consisting of leading industrial partners in railway and power sectors together with University of Leeds, to address the technical and operational challenges in designing, constructing and energising Railway Energy Hubs connecting to the 25kV AC and/or 750V DC traction networks. This project is the first micro-grid technology to interface across-sectors and provide flexibility services to both the railway network and the power grid.

You will be supporting the project lead to supervise a team of researchers and engineers to conduct the design and development of a multi-layer control strategy which enables the hubs to handle the coordinated control of battery storage, variable DC/AC power sources and highly uncertain stochastic traction loads.

Furthermore, you will be leading the impact, innovation and funding activities, engage proactively with industrial partners to ensure the research remains relevant, has a clear pathway to impact, and take a leading role in the development and writing of proposals to secure new research funding from national and international sources.

You are expected to be a well-established expert at the forefront of industrial R&D in the field of energy and transport decarbonization, having been instrumental in solving the puzzle of a modern power system and having deep, practical knowledge of the entire railway electrification ecosystem. You should also have a strong track record in cross-sector system modelling and data analysis with applications to power and railway systems.

Three positions, each 11.25 hours per week.

This role will be based on the University campus, with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.