Lecturer or Associate Professor in Maritime Engineering

About us

UCL Mechanical Engineering has been pioneering the development of engineering education, having taught the core discipline for over 170 years. UCL was home to the UK's first ever Professor of the Mechanical Principles of Engineering, Eaton Hodgkinson, in 1847. It was also where Sir Alexander Blackie William Kennedy introduced organized laboratory practicals in university education training; a world-leading educational innovation at the time.

Today our students, some 1200 students from over 70 countries, are taught core engineering disciplines and supervised in individual and group research projects by academics that are recognised research world-leaders in their fields.

In the latest UK Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) 93% of our faculty's research submitted was judged "world leading" or "internationally excellent".

The UCL Mechanical Engineering is a large multi-specialisation department. The diversity of our research is one of our strengths, leading to many interdisciplinary research opportunities. Our main research groups are:

• Biomechanical
• Energy and Environment
• Marine
• Materials, Structures and Manufacturing

The Marine, Autonomy and Robotic Systems (MARS) group at UCL actively supports the marine and naval sectors through world-leading research, consultancy, and education. Its work covers key themes including marine autonomy and automation, clean maritime technologies, and resilient ocean environments. MARS research has attracted significant funding from major bodies such as UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Lloyd's Register Foundation, the European Commission, and other national and international partners. The group's innovations have generated wide-ranging impact, informed policy and practice, and received recognition through awards from leading marine and maritime societies.

MARS group also plays a vital role in education, delivering unique and highly regarded programmes in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture that equip graduates with the skills and knowledge to meet the evolving needs of the maritime sector.

Appointment at Lecturer (Grade 8) or Associate Professor (Grade 9) will be determined by depth of experience and track record. For Associate Professor, the appointee would be expected to demonstrate sustained excellence in all aspects of academic life.

About the role

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is seeking to appoint a research-focused academic in Maritime Engineering at either the Lecturer level (equivalent to a U.S. tenure-track Assistant Professor) or the Associate Professor level.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a strong research programme that integrates cutting-edge technologies with our world-class experimental and computational facilities, contributing to the full breadth of maritime and ocean engineering and advancing UCL's position as a leader in maritime research.

We welcome applicants whose work spans a wide range of topics, including but not limited to naval architecture, hydrodynamics, marine systems engineering, port and coastal infrastructure, novel vessel design including autonomous marine vehicles, marine zero carbon technologies, and amongst many other topics.

You will be expected to work collaboratively with colleagues within the Marine, Autonomy and Robotics Systems (MARS) Group, the rest of the department and UCL more widely.

• Research: Provide leadership (Grade 9) or support (Grade 8) in developing and delivering high-quality research across key areas of maritime engineering, which may include naval architecture, hydrodynamics, marine systems engineering, port and coastal infrastructure, novel vessel design including autonomous marine vehicles, marine zero carbon technologies amongst many other topics. The successful candidate will be expected to engage widely with the Department's MARS Group and the whole department to contribute to its three strategic research themes: marine autonomy and automation, clean maritime technologies, and resilient ocean environments. The applicant should also have a proven track record in naval architecture or ship design research, contributing to the MARS group's excellence in these foundational areas.
• Education: Contribute to the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in naval architecture, maritime technologies and ocean engineering, including supervision of student research projects.
• Enterprise and External Engagement: Engage proactively with industry, research councils, and policy stakeholders to drive innovation, translation of research into practice, and generate real-world impact.
• Institutional Citizenship: Contribute to the academic community through leadership, mentoring, and administrative responsibilities that support the department's strategic goals and collegial culture.

Please refer to the Job Description & Person Specification on the UCL jobs board for more insight into the post's duties and responsibilities.

About you

We would be delighted to accept applications from candidates who meet the following criteria:

• PhD/EngD in naval architecture, maritime engineering, mechanical engineering or other relevant discipline.
• Knowledge of the fundamental principles of the discipline.
• Proven skills in undergraduate and/or postgraduate teaching and pedagogical knowledge in naval architecture, maritime engineering or mechanical engineering or other relevant discipline.
• Proven success in securing competitive research funding.
• Proven ability to produce high-quality publications relevant to the discipline
• Experience in supporting the development of students/early career researchers, through mentoring, or personal tutoring.
• Strong industry connections with experience working with, or in, the maritime industries
• While not essential, your application will be strengthened if you have s successful track record in securing industrial funding.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively within a team environment.
• An effective advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion

While not essential, your application will be enhanced if you can demonstrate a successful track record in securing industrial funding as well as any pertinent experience in leading positive culture change, or culture creation, within a discipline or organization.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For the Grade 8 Lecturer post the salary range is £54,172.00 - 62,035 (including £4,500 London allowance) per annum.

For the Grade 9 Associate Professor post the salary range is £67,341 - 73,142 (including £4,500 London allowance) per annum.

Please make it clear whether you are applying for grade 8 or grade 9.

Please ensure you upload all the following with your application:

• Full CV.
• Publication list. This must include a list of top five publications together with a short description (100 words max) for each outlining their significance.
• Teaching experience to date (1,000-word max).
• A research strategy for next 5 years (1,000-word max).
• Summary of how you satisfy the selection criteria listed below (1,000-word max).

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit our Rewards and Benefits page to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Our department holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/