“Product based environmental metrics for use within aerospace, defence, space and security industry”
The University of Surrey hosts a prestigious EPSRC-funded Industrial Doctorate Centre offering an EngD in Sustainability for Engineering and Energy Systems (SEES). The SEES EngD is a four-year doctorate for researchers who aspire to key leadership positions in industry. The programme is academically equivalent to a PhD, but has one major difference: students (or ‘Research Engineers’) spend the majority of their time based with a sponsor organisation, working on their commercial research priorities. They return to the University for short courses, conferences and seminars designed to develop specialist technical knowledge and exceptional business skills.
An EngD studentship is available with ADS Group Limited. ADS will ‘host’ the project, but a consortium of 5 key players within the aerospace, defence and space sectors will guide and direct the work. The RE will be located within each of the companies for an appropriate period of time to apply the research in a real time environment.
Brief Project Description
Environmental issues are becoming increasingly important and requests for environmental information about products Business to Consumer and Business to Business are becoming widespread. In an attempt to develop a common language for this type of information exchange amongst organisation within the ADS sectors, six product related indicators have been initially identified by ADS members as forming a core of useful environmental information. The goals of this EngD project will be to create agreed methodologies for the measurement of these six indicators. This will be achieved through a process of developmental research and case study implementation across relevant organisations within the ADS supply chain with progressive iteration of the methods based on the case study outputs. Ultimately, the outputs of this project will form the basis for establishing a standardised information exchange platform, which can be expanded as required to encompass new information challenges.
The aims of the EngD research project are comprised of three main aspects:
- Complete the development of the methodologies for measuring the indicators, incorporating the requirements of the ADS supply chain for environmental and operationally sustainable businesses
- Test the indicators in real-time using an appropriate range of case studies and evaluate if they are fit for purpose
- Revisit the defined indicators and add/delete indicators or adapt the assessment methods as required to ensure the information provided by this system still meets the requirements of customers and users
The Research Engineer will be based in London with multiple secondments to other UK locations, as required.
Person Specification
We are looking for a self motivated and confident individual with exceptional interpersonal and presentation skills and the ability to work across a range of academic and professional disciplines within a complex organisational structure. The suitable candidate will hold a good MEng / MSc in Engineering or Applied Science and have an appreciation of sustainability and environmental issues.
The successful candidate will be able to work unsupervised and be happy to work in different locations around the UK. Knowledge and experience of LCA and/or the development of environmental indicators is essential. Experience in the Aerospace, Defence or Space industry would be an advantage, as would experience with multiple criteria assessment. Experience managing large stakeholder groups and consolidating group inputs would also be beneficial.
Due to the secure nature of some of the sites where the RE will be asked to work, the applicant must be a UK national.
Funding Details
The current stipends for EngD studentships are £19,700 per annum or above (normally tax-free). To be eligible for funding, applicants must demonstrate a relevant connection with the UK (see www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTraining/StudentEligibility.htm).
Closing date: Sunday 29th July 2012 (Interviews are expected to take place on the 8th August 2012)
To apply: please visit the ‘Available Projects’ section of our website (www.surrey.ac.uk/sees). For further information, please contact engd@surrey.ac.uk or 01483 684036.