The research will be undertaken in the context of the 2-year project SENSUM: smart SENSing of landscapes Undergoing hazardous hydrogeological Movement, funded under the UKRI Constructing a Digital Environment funding program. SENSUM proposes a novel integrated approach for the management of hydrogeological hazards, leveraging advances in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, microelectronics and machine learning, to provide warnings of hazardous events and improve numerical models of their dynamics. It addresses specific landslide and flood risk management problems in the UK - threats highlighted by organisations tasked with managing these hazards. SENSUM will work closely with these organisations, including the Environment Agency, to revolutionise and dramatically improve monitoring, and to provide increased understanding and mitigation of landslide and flood hazards.
As PDR, you will have an overview of the project as a whole and will collaborate with the other members of the SENSUM team in order to help manage the project. You will be based in Plymouth and will work with Dr Irene Manzella (https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/irene-manzella) leader of the Plymouth team, and with Prof Alison Raby, Prof Iain Stewart and Dr Sarah Boulton. You will also work closely with the two other project PDRFs and with the whole SENSUM team which is led by Dr Georgina Bennet at the University of Exeter and it is in collaboration as well with the University of East Anglia. Occasional visits to Exeter and Norwich may be required as well as field visits to sites in the UK, Switzerland and Nepal, if/when COVID allows.
You will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. And will be a nationally recognised authority in landslide and/or flood science and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. You must also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as project manager as required. You should have sufficient experience ideally in numerical modelling of fluid and granular flows and should be able to program in a language such as Matlab, R or Python. Experience in physical modelling and flume tests is also preferred.
Please demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement. Incldue a cover letter and a CV with publications list.
For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Dr Irene Manzella by email Irene.manzella@plymouth.ac.uk
Interviews are likely to take place online on the 30th of November and you will be notified if you have been shortlisted or not.
We offer a competitive salary package and a generous pension and holiday scheme. We also offer a range of other benefits, including ongoing development opportunities.
This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week on a fixed-term basis for 2 years due to the nature of the funding.
Please note, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the University is currently implementing a number of safety measures as per Government advice therefore the successful applicant may be required to work from home in the first instance.
Flexible working options including job share will be considered.
The University of Plymouth is committed to equality of opportunity, promoting a diverse and inclusive culture, demonstrated through our commitment to the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and as a Stonewall diversity champion. All applications will be judged solely on merit, however, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently under-represented in the workforce, for example black and minority ethnic groups.
University of Plymouth holds a TEF (Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework) Silver by the Office for Students.
Job Description