Research Associate in Tribology - London, United Kingdom - King's College London

King's College London

Verified Company

London, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

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Description

Job id:
Salary: £43,205 - £46,732 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 26 January 2024.

Closing date: 26 February 2024.

Business unit:
Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sci

Department:
Engineering.

Location:
Strand Campus

Category:
Research.

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Job description

King's College is uniquely positioned to become a major contributor to tackling food security and establish its leadership in plant/fermented food research.

Through our Green Tribology Lab, recently built on the Strand campus (central London), we have acquired first-of-its kind testing equipment to investigate food ingredient performance during oral processing, which will enable rapid screening of new foods prior to more cumbersome sensory panels.

The proposed work streams include characterising the mechanisms of saliva-fat lubrication during oral processing (using a state-of-the-art Bruker TriboLab tribometer and employing methods such as optical microscopy, laser-induced florescence and infrared thermal imaging), as well as determining correlations between lab measurements and taste assessments from a trained human panel using machine learning.

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 9 months.

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent.

Key responsibilities

Conduct multiple research work streams in aspects of oral tribology, with a focus on investigating saliva-fat interactions and oral delubrication mechanisms by measuring frictional behaviour using a modified Bruker TriboLab and visualising underlying processes using a custom-made, in-situ optical microscopy technique.

Analyse results, including visualising corelations between frictional behaviour and recorded images using Matlab scripts, and drawing relevant insights.

Develop machine learning models to determine correlations between taste perception and scientific measurements (secondary focus).

Support day-to-day activities of the Green Tribology Lab and communicate with industry project partners.

Assist with writing of reports to research sponsors.

Present findings to collaborators.

Provide advice to other members of staff and students.

Take the lead on the publication of findings.

Develop contacts with the College and wider academic and industry community.

Promote the reputation of the Green Tribology Lab and the Department of Engineering.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Have had exposure to bio-tribology research and have at least a basic understanding or oral processing mechanisms

Have significant expertise and experience in running CETR UMT / Bruker TriboLab experiments, or other similar ball-on-disc tribometer

Have employed optical microscopy techniques (high speed imaging) in previous research

Have strong expertise in using Matlab, particularly for image processing

Have significant expertise and experience in using surface analysis instruments including WLI and confocal microscopes

Have the ability to work independently, prioritise own work in response to deadlines and organise own activities with limited supervision

Be proficient in English and demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills

Essential criteria

Hold a PhD or equivalent in Tribology or a closely related discipline, or be able to demonstrate equivalent research experience in an academic or commercial setting
Exposure to Tribology
Expertise in using ballondisc tribometers
Expertise in using Matlab
Expertise with optical microscopy techniques
Image processing knowledge
Ability to work independently
Proficient in English
Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Desirable criteria

Machine learning knowledge

Further information

This is a fixed term position for 9 months.

This position is not eligible for a hybrid working structure, as experiments must be conducted on site.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to offer sponsorship for this post.