Postdoctoral Research Associate in Hydrogen Embrittlement Testing

We are seeking a 30% FTE part-time Postdoctoral Research Associate in Hydrogen
Embrittlement (Experiments) to join Prof. Emilio Martinez-Paneda’s research
group (the Mechanics of Materials Lab) at the Department of Engineering
Science (central Oxford). This fixed-term post is funded by an UKRI Future
Leaders Fellowship until December 31, 2024.





You will conduct experiments to characterize the susceptibility of metals to
hydrogen embrittlement, a phenomenon that is arguably the biggest threat to
the deployment of a hydrogen energy infrastructure and the cause of numerous
structural integrity problems in the transport, defence, marine and
construction sectors.





You will be responsible for conducting a wide variety of experimental tasks,
including (but not limited to) mechanical testing, microscopy (SEM), hydrogen
permeation (both gaseous and electrochemical), electrochemical charging, and
thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). You will also be expected to take part
in collaborative work, take part in the activities of the research group,
submit publications to reputed journals and liaise with academic collaborators
and sponsors.





You must have obtained or be close to obtaining a PhD in engineering,
materials science, physics, chemistry, or other closely-related disciplines.
Also, you should have experience in at least one of the following:





• Mechanical testing



• Environmentally assisted fracture testing



• Temperature-programmed hydrogen desorption



• Materials characterisation



• Hydrogen permeation



• Coupled deformation-diffusion modelling





Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof. Emilio Martinez-Paneda (email:
emilio.martinez-paneda@eng.ox.ac.uk)





Only online applications received before midday on **22nd April 2024** can be
considered. You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting
statement, including a brief statement of research interests (describing how
past experience and future plans fit with the advertised position), CV and the
details of two referees as part of your online application.





The Department holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment
to promoting women in Science, Engineering and Technology.





Hydrogen embrittlement, Materials characterisation, Electrochemical testing,
Mechanical testing hydrogen,



Hydrogen permeation and diffusion