The University of Leicester is seeking to appoint a Professor or Associate Professor in Materials Engineering to provide strategic research leadership in an area critical to the future of advanced engineering, sustainable energy systems and space technologies. This appointment reflects the University’s commitment to strengthening research leadership and international impact, positioning Leicester as a leading centre for materials research that supports national priorities in space, net zero and industrial innovation.
The successful candidate will establish and lead a distinctive programme of world-leading research in Materials Engineering, contributing to and connecting research activity across the School of Engineering’s major research groups, including Aerospace, Green Energy and Transportation, Digital Manufacturing and Management, and Mechanics of Materials. The role will play a key part in shaping the School’s long-term research strategy and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering and the wider University. You will be joining a welcoming community of colleagues best expressed in our mission statement “Together building an inclusive and inspiring teaching and research community, to create the school of choice for world leading engineers and future innovators.”
A central focus of the role will be advancing materials research aligned with major UK strategic priorities. This includes contributing to Space Systems and Engineering, helping to anchor Leicester’s global reputation in space technologies through close links with Space Park Leicester and the University’s strong heritage in space instrumentation and engineering. The role will also support research in Fusion and Sustainable Energy Futures, developing materials, diagnostics and modelling approaches for extreme environments relevant to fusion energy systems and the UK’s transition to net zero.
You will also contribute to emerging areas such as AI-driven Net Zero Engineering and Manufacturing, where advanced materials research intersects with digital manufacturing, data-driven design and sustainable production. These activities provide strong opportunities to collaborate with the Midlands’ internationally recognised manufacturing base and align closely with the UK Industrial Strategy.
In addition, the role will help develop Leicester’s distinctive capability in Materials and Autonomy in Extreme Environments—a cross-cutting research theme spanning space systems, fusion energy, advanced materials and manufacturing. This area provides a unique opportunity to develop new research directions that integrate materials performance, intelligent systems and autonomous operation in challenging environments.
Beyond research leadership, you will contribute to research-inspired teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate engineering programmes, supervise postgraduate researchers, and mentor early-career academics. The role will also involve building strong national and international research collaborations, attracting major external funding, and developing partnerships with industry and government.
Through this strategic appointment, the University of Leicester is signalling a clear commitment to investing in research leadership that drives innovation, impact and global reputation—ensuring Leicester remains at the forefront of materials engineering for the next generation of space, energy and advanced manufacturing technologies.