Job Description

Job title:
Department/School:
Grade:
Location:

Postdoctoral Research Associate (12-month

PDRA)
Department of Chemical Engineering
7
9 West

Job purpose
Summarise the principal aims of the post. Try to convey a broad picture of the
job and the contribution expected from the job holder towards the achievement of
departmental objectives.
Advances in single-use-technologies (SUT)s are leading a shift away from
storage and mixing in fixed stainless steel vessels. This is especially common in
the pharmaceutical industry, where the requirement for aseptic operation leads to
time-consuming and costly cleaning protocols. By effectively eliminating cleaning
and sterilising in-place, SUTs can improve the overall environmental performance
of a process in addition to achieving significant cost savings.
This 12-month post will research and implement innovative engineering solutions,
to facilitate process development across a range of biotechnology projects. The
PDRA will develop a series of 3-D computational models using commercial
software to optimise a range of bioreactor designs that are most likely to be
associated with mixing and air flow. Influence of stirrer design and penetration of
the gas from air sparger will be investigated, ultimately providing useful
knowledge of mass transfer and rates of reaction. The PDRA is expected to lead
day-to-day research activities and engage with industrial partners to implement
new technology in new and existing production line.
The PDRA is expected to have a track record and experience in CFD modelling
(e.g. ANSYS-Fluent or OpenFOAM) in two phase flow and will also contribute to
the computational and experimental studies within the research group and
consortium. Research will be disseminated in high impact journals and key
international conferences.
The successful applicant will work in a progressive academic environment, and
will benefit from the supportive, collaborative and well-organised Department of
Chemical Engineering at the University.
Source and nature of management provided
Dr John Chew
Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering
Principal Investigator: BioMOD: A modular bio-processing platform for
competitive, high quality manufacturing (RE-CE1082)
Staff management responsibility
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Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) - 12 months

Career and Professional Development Activities
For posts in the Education and Research Job Family please include relevant
section as appropriate:
The statement below must be included for all jobs:
PDRA will be required to take part in outreach and public engagement activities
organised the research group.
From time to time you may be asked to assist in the facilitation of CPD activities.
This will form part of your substantive role and you will not receive additional
payment for these activities.
Special conditions
N/A
Main duties and responsibilities
Detail the main duties of the job, grouping together related activities. Consider
the precise nature of responsibility and choose the most appropriate verb e.g.
plan, supervise, analyse etc. This will help when evaluating the grade of the job.
Please refer to the guidelines on writing a job description and consider the 14
HERA elements when detailing these duties.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

To contribute as an active member of the Research Group led by Dr John

Chew; motivating others in the team; and providing leadership and direction
for the team.
To identify and develop options and select solutions problems occur within
the job.
To work closely with staff in high computing capacity in University of Bath.
To co-supervise PhD and Masters-level students working in the research
related to computational modelling.
To communicate and organise meetings with industrial partners every
quarter.
To train personnel/staff from industrial partners on computational modelling
of bioreactor design.
To provide instructions to MEng students on engineering design and use of
computational modelling in the area of biotechnology
To facilitate industrial partners in installing new system/technology into their
production lines

9
10
You will from time to time be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature
as reasonably required by your line manager.
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Page 3

Appendix B

Person Specification
Criteria

Essential

Desirable

Assessed by
A/F

Qualifications
PhD in Chemical Engineering or
related discipline

I/T

Experience/Knowledge
Industrial experience and a track
record of application of computational
fluid dynamics to industrial case
studies

Skills
A track record of using ANSYS and/or
OpenFOAM

Attributes

Code: A/F Application form, I/T Interview/Test, R References

Human Resources

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02/07/2015