Research Associate - Aircraft Vibration Energy Harvesting

Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering

Part-Time, 20hrs per week. Fixed term until 31 January 2026.

Join us and be part of a vibrant community at Loughborough University.

Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for:

A part-time Research Associate is required to undertake research on designing vibration energy harvester for aircrafts. The project is funded by the EU (project title AVATAR, https://www.avatar-project.eu/).

An important requirement in aircrafts is the collection of data from various locations of the structure using a variety of sensors. The necessity to power these sensors without using batteries or extensive harnessing through the aircraft structure (to avoid replacing batteries and to reduce weight) leads to the development of solutions that harvest energy from the motion and oscillations present at the aircraft components in order to power the sensors, the data postprocessing and their transfer.

The above landscape requires various interrelated disciplines to be considered under the same framework (electromagnetics and/or piezoelectric energy harvesting transduction mechanisms, component flexibility, transient dynamics, mechanical vibrations, and electronics).

Key Requirements:

The candidate needs to have extensive experience working in:

• Vibration energy harvesting modelling, design, and testing.
• Dynamics experimental measurements and rig setup.
• Publications record on vibration energy harvesting.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Prof Stephanos Theodossiades, Co-Investigator, by email at s.theodossiades@lboro.ac.uk or by telephone on 44 (0) 1509 227 664

For more information refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.

Closing Date: 24 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.