We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ourselves into one of the best universities in the world, which we are achieving through the talents and endeavour of every employee.  

Our culture empowers people to achieve this aim and to collectively, and individually, make a real difference.  

The role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated researcher to join an EPSRC-funded UKRI-Norway project on Energy Micropile Retrofits for Climate Change Adaptation of Existing Buildings. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to research at the interface of experimental geotechnics, sustainable infrastructure, low-carbon energy systems and climate-change adaptation.

The project aims to develop and validate energy micropile retrofit solutions that can support the decarbonisation of existing buildings by combining structural foundation performance with renewable thermal energy exchange. Based within the University of Surrey’s Civil Engineering Laboratories, you will lead the laboratory-scale experimental programme and generate high-quality datasets to support the validation of next-generation energy micropile systems

You will work closely with colleagues at the University of Surrey and with project partners at the Universities of Leeds, Cambridge and NTNU, as well as relevant industrial collaborators. The role offers the opportunity to undertake cutting-edge laboratory research, contribute to high-impact publications, and engage with a multidisciplinary consortium addressing an important challenge in sustainable infrastructure.

In this role, you will develop and test scaled model energy micropiles, conduct axial, lateral and cyclic thermal testing, support the development of enhanced thermal grouts and binders, analyse complex experimental datasets, collaborate with project partners on numerical model validation, and contribute to publications, conferences, technical reports and knowledge exchange activities.

About you

The successful candidate will have a PhD, or be near completion of a PhD, in Geotechnical Engineering or a closely related discipline. You will have practical experience of laboratory-based experimental research and a strong interest in physical modelling, soil–structure interaction, thermo-mechanical testing or related areas.

You should be able to demonstrate hands-on experience of laboratory testing and experimental setups, with practical knowledge of soil mechanics and thermo-mechanical or thermal response testing. You will also have strong data analysis, research publication, organisational and problem-solving skills, alongside the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders, and travel occasionally within the UK and internationally.

How to apply

Please submit your application through the University of Surrey recruitment portal, including your CV and any supporting information requested as part of the online application process.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Dr Benyi Cao (b.cao@surrey.ac.uk)

Closing Date: 07 Sep 2026

Area: Research & Teaching

Salary: £37,694 to £39,906 per annum
Fixed term contract upto March 2029

We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ourselves into one of the best universities in the world, which we are achieving through the talents and endeavour of every employee.  

Our culture empowers people to achieve this aim and to collectively, and individually, make a real difference.  

The role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated researcher to join an EPSRC-funded UKRI-Norway project on Energy Micropile Retrofits for Climate Change Adaptation of Existing Buildings. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to research at the interface of computational geotechnics, data-centric methods, sustainable infrastructure, low-carbon energy systems, and climate-change adaptation.

The project aims to develop and validate energy micropile retrofit solutions that can support the decarbonisation of existing buildings by combining structural foundation performance with renewable thermal energy exchange. Based within the University of Surrey's School of Engineering, the successful candidate will lead the project's computational modelling strand, developing complex numerical models and validating them against datasets generated by collaborators. The candidate will use surrogate modelling and data-centric approaches to complement simulations, incorporating uncertainty to evaluate system resilience, and developing useful tools that will enable industry to adopt energy micropiles as a dual structural–energy retrofit solution.

This research will be performed in close collaboration with colleagues at the University of Surrey and with project partners at the Universities of Leeds, Cambridge and NTNU, as well as relevant industrial collaborators. The role offers the opportunity to undertake cutting-edge computational research, contribute to high-impact publications, and engage with a multidisciplinary consortium addressing an important challenge in sustainable infrastructure.

In this role, the successful candidate will develop and validate advanced numerical models of energy micropiles, undertake large-scale simulations and data-driven analysis to explore performance and optimise designs, assess the impact of uncertainty on retrofit outcomes, and translate research findings into practical tools and guidance for industry. The role also involves contributing to publications, conferences, technical reports and collaborative project activities, and would suit a researcher with strong computational, numerical modelling and programming skills who is motivated by real-world climate and energy challenges.

About you

The successful candidate will have a PhD, or be near completion of a PhD, in Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Geo-energy, Energy Systems, Computational Mechanics or a related discipline. You will have experience with numerical modelling and/or data-centric methods and a keen interest in applying these to energy and infrastructure challenges.

You should be able to demonstrate experience in numerical modelling of coupled thermal, hydraulic and/or mechanical processes, alongside strong scientific programming, data-handling and analytical skills. Experience in probabilistic analysis and uncertainty quantification within an engineering context, a track record of high-quality peer-reviewed research, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively are also essential, together with strong communication and problem-solving skills and a willingness to travel occasionally within the UK and internationally.

How to apply

To apply, please submit an online application via the University of Surrey jobs website, including your CV and a covering letter (maximum length of 2 pages) that sets out how you meet the criteria for the role.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Dr Nikolas Makasis (n.makasis@surrey.ac.uk)

Closing Date: 07 Sep 2026

Area: Research & Teaching

Salary: £37,694 to £39,906 per annum
Fixed term contract upto July 2029

We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ourselves into one of the best universities in the world, which we are achieving through the talents and endeavour of every employee.  

Our culture empowers people to achieve this aim and to collectively, and individually, make a real difference.  

The role

The School of Engineering is looking to recruit a full-time member of academic staff to support its research and teaching in Aerospace Engineering. The School benefits from extensive national and international collaboration, excellent facilities, and strong links with industry.

Surrey has long-standing expertise in aerospace engineering, focusing on fundamental fluid dynamics, propulsion, vehicle control and sustainable transport technologies. Our researchers solve real-world problems ranging from flows in gas turbine engines to air pollution in cities. We have both experimental (e.g. wind tunnels) and computational facilities.

The successful applicant will be expected to teach on our undergraduate programme in Aerospace Engineering. This is a well-established programme which attracts high calibre students. An ability and enthusiasm for delivering a high-quality student experience are essential and experience in and enthusiasm for supervising design projects would be welcome. Chartered Engineer status would also be desirable.

The School holds an Athena Swan Bronze Award and is committed to building a culturally diverse organization. 

What we can offer

In addition to salary, we offer a generous annual leave entitlement of 30 days holiday plus seven university closure days and eight bank holidays, a generous pension, access to world-class leisure facilities on campus, a range of travel schemes, and supportive family friendly benefits including an excellent on-site nursery. 

Further Information

To apply please upload your CV and a cover letter to the University website. 

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Prof. Nick Hills, Head of School of Engineering (N.Hills@surrey.ac.uk).

The University of Surrey is committed to providing an inclusive environment that offers equal opportunities for all.  We place great value on diversity and are seeking to increase the diversity within our community.  Therefore, we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups, such as people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities.

Closing Date: 13 Sep 2026

Area: Research & Teaching

Salary: £47,389 to £56,535 per annum