At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a team developing offshore digital twins for wind turbines using cutting-edge technology.
- Company: Cranfield University, a leader in engineering and applied sciences.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for international travel.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on sustainability and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on renewable energy solutions while building your research profile.
- Qualifications: PhD or nearing completion in relevant engineering fields with teamwork and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 38655 - 38655 £ per year.
Organisation: Cranfield University
Faculty or Department: Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Based at: Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Hours of work: 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered.
Contract type: Fixed term contract
Fixed Term Period: For 24 months
Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £38,655 per annum
Apply by: 13/09/2026
Role Description: 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.
Closing date for receipt of applications: 13 September 2026
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.
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: Times Higher Education
Times Higher Education is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration in the field of global education. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, employees are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work, while benefiting from opportunities for professional growth and development. Located in Holborn, the hybrid work model allows for flexibility, making it an attractive place for those seeking meaningful and impactful careers in education policy and events management.
