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For informal enquiries, please contact Zushu Li (Professor) z.li.19@warwick.ac.uk
WMG, a world-renowned department at the University of Warwick, are recruiting a Research Fellow on developing steelmaking slags for producing high-quality steels via the scrap-based EAF (electric arc furnace) steelmaking route. Converting the BF (blast furnace ironmaking)-BOF (basic oxygen furnace steelmaking) to the scrap-based EAF route for steelmaking is attractive to decarbonise the steelmaking process, however, it requires significant slag development in both primary and refining steelmaking processes. The scrap quality including the residual elements contained in the scrap will influence the liquid steel composition, the slag properties and its refining performance, and slag utilisation. Refining slags particularly play a critical role in ensuring the steel chemistry to meet the grade specifications. This role offers a unique opportunity to develop the research framework (a combination of thermodynamic modelling and experiment) for designing refining slags for the specific refining process and targeted steel grades as agreed with the industry sponsor Tata Steel UK. This will support the transition of Tata Steel UK to the scrap-based EAF steel manufacturing. This role is jointly funded by Tata Steel UK, High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC), and the EPSRC Future Steel Manufacturing Research Hub (www.sustainsteel.ac.uk). You will work with leading, multidiscipline academics from different universities and industry experts for the impactful research.
You shall have a PhD or EngD in Materials Science and Engineering including Metallurgy, or a relevant discipline. We are looking for a researcher having proven knowledge in the research and development of green steel manufacturing with good understanding of scrap-based EAF steelmaking (including primary and refining processes) and scrap quality. The ideal candidate would have strong track-record in metallurgical slag research theoretically and experimentally.
This role offers the opportunity to conduct both independent and collaborative research, so you should be able to work independently as well as being part of a team. You should also have effective communication skills, written and oral, to enable you to secure external funding through research grants and to publish research outcomes in the appropriate journal, increasing your research portfolio. You should also contribute to the administrative aspects of the project and ensure the project is delivered on time.
For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.
If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure.
WMG is the largest department at the University of Warwick with over 800 staff, world renowned for providing innovative solutions to industry through its research, development and education programmes. Our industry focussed education portfolio includes nearly 3,000 students studying management, technology and applied engineering subjects, at postgraduate and undergraduate level. We have high expectations for our teaching and our courses are regularly ranked top in the UK and amongst the leading courses in their field in the world.
At WMG we are committed to supporting staff to achieve their potential. We currently hold the Athena SWAN Silver Award and the University of Warwick holds an Institutional Silver Award: a national initiative that recognizes the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression and success for all in academia.
For further information about WMG, please visit our website.
For further information on the WMG centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult, please see our website.
Further information about the Energy Innovation Centre can be found here.
We believe there should be no barriers to continuing education, and we strive to ensure that the future workforce has the skills they need to become the UK's upcoming engineers and inventors.
Our unique approach to undergraduate education enables full-time students, Higher Apprentices, and full-time employees to gain an engineering degree.
Our teaching staff deliver educational programmes not just at Warwick, but internationally, and the knowledge we can leverage from our research excellence enables our students to reach their highest possible standards.
Full details of our range of undergraduate and Degree Apprenticeships can be found here.
Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’**.
You'll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.
*QS World University Rankings 2024
** Research Excellence Framework 2021
To find out more about us visit our website.
CLOSING DATE: Tuesday 20th May 2025 at 23:55 (BST)
To apply, please click ‘Apply’ below and submit an application form by the closing date.
Please plan for any potential delays as you will not be able to submit an application form past this deadline (even if you opened the form at, say, 23:30).
You will have to attach a CV and a cover letter.
Please see here for guidance on writing a cover letter. We highly recommend using individual criteria as headers and explaining below, using examples, how you meet the criterion, though you are free to format the letter as you wish.
To streamline our hiring processes, we can only accept applications submitted via our official careers webpage, warwick-careers.tal.net.
We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.
We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working, for more information click here.
We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer.
If you are considering relocating to the UK, read our Relocation Guide to find out more about what Warwick has to offer and what might be involved in the process.
Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.
We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages here.
The University currently holds a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award, Athena Swan Sliver Award and a Disability Smart Bronze Award. Further information on all of the University's Awards and Accreditations can be found here. The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance.
Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
The University of Warwick is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those we work with.
In line with the DBS Code of Practice, the successful candidates for any roles involving regulated activity, will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level. The University will take all necessary measures to ensure that any individual subject to a barring order does not undertake any work with the barred group specified (i.e. children and/or adults).
We expect all employees, volunteers, and partners to share our commitment to safeguarding.
Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders
The University undertakes not to discriminate against anyone who makes a disclosure relating to a conviction. The information disclosed at application stage is only visible to the central DBS team (i.e. not recruiting managers) to ensure there is no bias during the shortlisting process.
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This opportunity is closed to applications.
