Northumbria University
Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Job Description
About the Role
Working as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team, you will support the Principal Investigator in delivering research activity on Project WHOWL: Whale- and Owl-Inspired Synergistic Aerodynamic–Aeroacoustic Control for Wind Turbine Blades — a UKRI/EPSRC-funded project starting October 2026.
WHOWL is under EPSRC's flagship "Unlocking the Full Potential of Nature-Based Engineering" call. The project investigates, for the first time, the synergistic integration of whale-inspired leading-edge protuberances and owl-inspired trailing-edge serrations on wind turbine blades, aiming to break the long-standing trade-off between aerodynamic performance and noise emissions.
You will work alongside the Principal Investigator at Northumbria University in Newcastle and the Co-Investigator at the University of Leeds, supported by industry partners (ORE Catapult and WhalePower Corporation) and an international collaboration with West Chester University in the USA.
Key Responsibilities Will Include
- Designing and parametrising hybrid bio-inspired aerofoil configurations — translating biological principles into engineering design matrices, and contributing to the development of an open-source parametric design framework for bio-inspired wind turbine blades
- Conducting wind tunnel experimental campaigns including aerodynamic measurements of bio-inspired aerofoil configurations
- Developing and running high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations with associated aeroacoustic analysis
- Producing high-quality, peer-reviewed publications and presenting at international conferences
- Coordinating technical engagement with project partners and contributing to dissemination activities
This is a full-time 24-month fixed-term post starting October 2026.
A bespoke £75,000 ring-fenced PDRA/Early Career Researcher development programme is uniquely built into this project, reflecting our commitment to supporting ECR's long-term career growth. The successful candidate will benefit from structured technical training in the UK and USA, international conference presentations, industrial mentoring at ORE Catapult, and tailored development in research and project management — providing an exceptional springboard for career progression toward fellowship, faculty positions, or senior roles in industry.
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About the Team
This research project is being delivered within the School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics at Northumbria University, a research-intensive department whose work in renewable energy, fluid dynamics and aeroacoustics has contributed to Northumbria's top-25 UK ranking for research power. The project is hosted at the Northumbria University Aerodynamics Laboratory, with access to the University's wind tunnel facility, advanced PIV instrumentation, and high-performance computing resources.
WHOWL is a flagship project under Northumbria's Energy Futures multidisciplinary research theme — the University's primary platform for net-zero research, supporting partnerships with over 30 industrial collaborators across the renewable energy sector. The successful candidate will join a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive interdisciplinary community at the interface of engineering, applied physics, and bio-inspired design.
About You
Applicants should hold a PhD (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline such as mechanical or aerospace engineering, applied physics, fluid mechanics, or a closely related field, with demonstrable expert knowledge in aerodynamics, experimental fluid mechanics, computational fluid dynamics, or aeroacoustics.
We Particularly Welcome Applicants With Experience In
- Bio-inspired aerodynamics, wind turbine blade design, and/or aeroacoustics
- Aerofoil or blade design, including parametric geometry generation and CAD-based modelling
- Low-speed wind tunnel testing, including dynamic stall testing, with non-intrusive flow measurement techniques.
- Unsteady CFD simulations and turbulence modelling
- A track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals in fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, or renewable energy
Further information about the requirements of the role is available in the person specification.
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If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Dr Xiang Shen (Principal Investigator) at shaun.shen@northumbria.ac.uk.
To apply for this vacancy, please click 'Apply Now'. Your application should include a covering letter and a CV.
About Us
Join Northumbria University, a research-intensive institution unlocking potential and changing lives locally and globally. Named Times Higher Education's University of the Year in 2022 and Modern University of the Year in 2025, we rank top 25 in the UK for research power. Discover more about us.
With over 37,000 students from over 140 countries, we offer world-leading research, award-winning partnerships, and an outstanding student experience. We empower our exceptional staff, promoting a positive work-life balance and offering great benefits, including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, generous holiday entitlement and more.
Our Northumbria Values, co-created by our team, define who we are: Academic Excellence, Innovation, Inclusivity, Collaboration, and Ambition. Our Behaviours shape our work culture: We listen and learn, support one another, respect everyone, trust each other, and are bold.
Based in Newcastle upon Tyne and London, we are an on-campus organisation and offer flexible hours and location where the role allows. We pride ourselves on diversity and inclusivity, holding numerous awards for gender and race equality, disability confidence, and research excellence. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers. The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process.
Apply now and join a community committed to transforming society and the economy. Explore "Our Exceptional People, Our Values and Behaviours" page to learn more about our commitments and see our Privacy Policy for further details.
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