PDRA or Research Assistant in Circular Robotic Manufacturing

Job reference REQ250214

Date posted 24/03/2025

Application closing date 28/04/2025

Location Loughborough

Package Specialist and Supporting Academic Research from £29,179

Job description

Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering  

Full time, fixed term for 12 months

This role will be recruited to either a Post Doctoral Research Associate or Research Assistant depending on the pool of applicants we receive.  

It is essential that the post holder has the ability and willingness to travel to national and international partners and undertake visits lasting 1-3 weeks to project partners. This role is not suitable for remote working.

We are looking for a Graduate Research Assistant or Post-Doctoral Research Associate with strong interest in Circular Economy, Robotics, AI and vision systems, sustainability, remanufacturing and recycling to work on an exciting project which aims to develop a whole system circular approach to the design, use and end-of-life management of industrial robots. 

The postholder will be based at the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University campus and will lead work on developing a AI-based vision recognition for waste segregation and a robotic cell to perform a range of tasks for disassembly, refurbishment and remanufacturing of industrial robots.  

You will have a BSc, MSc or PhD degree or equivalent in mechanical, manufacturing, electronic, robotic control engineering or any relevant discipline. You will have regular interaction and collaborate closely with the project’s team of researchers together with an integrated academic and industrial project team to develop new learning and to disseminate the project findings. 

For more information about the Research Assistant (grade 5) please see the Job Description and Person Specification.   

For more information about the Post Doctoral Research Associate (grade 6) please see the Job Description and Person Specification. 

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Shahin Rahimifard [email protected]   

Closing date for applications: 28 April 2025

Our Benefits

• Generous annual leave allowance up to 44 days (inclusive of Bank Holidays & University closure days)
• Competitive pension schemes
• A range of childcare support initiatives and benefits including childcare vouchers; on-site university nursery (with salary sacrifice scheme); and holiday play schemes.
• We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies.
• BUPA Cash Plan (100 scheme)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Season ticker loan scheme
• On campus parking with charging points for electric vehicles
• Fantastic range of sports facilities and preferential membership packages available

Loughborough University is committed to achieving equality and valuing diversity in all aspects of employment and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.