At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a cutting-edge project on offshore digital twins for wind turbines and collaborate internationally.
- Company: Cranfield University, a leader in technology and management with strong industry ties.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for travel and professional growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to sustainability and innovation in a supportive workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on renewable energy solutions while developing your skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: PhD or nearing completion in relevant engineering fields; experience in offshore wind and AI modelling preferred.
The predicted salary is between 38655 - 38655 £ per year.
Fixed Term Contract for 24 months
Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £38,655 per annum
Location: Cranfield, Bedfordshire
We are delighted to announce a new opening for a postdoctoral researcher to work on offshore digital twins, focusing on fixed and floating wind turbines. The postholder will play a key role in an EU Horizon project.
About the Role
The successful applicant will be joining a large, international consortium with dozens of academic and industrial members. You will look into many novel aspects of developing offshore digital twins, such as sensing, data handling, physics and AI modelling, software development, as well as experiments at the Cranfield Ocean Systems Laboratory. You will also be involved in assessing the techno-economic performance and life-cycle sustainability of the newly developed technologies. You will assist the coordinator in managing the project. You will have the opportunity to travel extensively to work with partners and attend international events. We believe this is a precious opportunity for a postdoctoral researcher to build up an impressive and well-rounded profile. The post will be 24 months in the first instance, whilst a renewal of the contract is possible.
About You
You should have a PhD (or close to completion) in the area of Mechanical Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or related disciplines. You are expected to demonstrate knowledge and a track record in some of the following aspects: offshore wind turbines, wave tank experiments, fluid-structure interactions, sensors for offshore structural health monitoring, software development, machine learning and advanced AI modelling, and previous experience of working in large international collaborations. Being independent and confident, having good planning and self-management skills, having great oral and written communication, and having a passion for teamwork will be ideal.
About Us
As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Cranfield’s Automotive, Energy and Photonics theme is an industry-focussed research cluster at the University and aims to bring together interdisciplinary teams to tackle existing and rising challenges for a Net-Zero future. Our researchers, academics and students engage in projects with industry and government to tackle issues ranging from offshore placement of renewable energy systems, to desktop-based development of advanced AI systems.
Our Values and Commitments
Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families.
Working Arrangements
Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.
Closing date for receipt of applications: 13 September 2026. Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert prior to the stated closing date should we receive sufficient numbers of applications. Therefore, we would encourage you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.
Research Fellow in Offshore Digital Twins in Cranfield employer: Cranfield University
Cranfield University is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that encourages innovation and collaboration within the Faculty of Business and Management. With flexible working arrangements and a strong focus on employee development, staff are empowered to grow their skills while making a meaningful impact on students' entrepreneurial journeys. The university's commitment to fostering a vibrant academic community makes it an attractive place for those passionate about teaching and mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.
