UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
RECRUITMENT ROLE PROFILE FORM
Job Title:
Research Assistant/Associate/Fellow
School/Department:
Faculty of Engineering/Institute for Aerospace Technology
Salary:
£25,513 - £31,342 per annum, depending on skills and
experience, (minimum £28,695 with relevant PhD).
Job Family and Level:
Research and Teaching Level 4a/Level 4 career training
grade/Level 4 (Appointment will be Level 4a or Level 4 Career
training grade where an appointment is made before PhD has
been completed)
Contract Status:
This post is available immediately and will be offered on a fixedterm contract for a period of 12 months.
Location:
Institute for Aerospace Technology, Jubilee Campus, University of
Nottingham.
Responsible to:
Professor Herve Morvan
Job Outline:
This post is designed around a strategic inter-disciplinary ‘Grand Challenge’ of Flexible Path
Landing for civilian aviation. The post-holder’s research will explore the potentials, risks and
issues involved in moving from fixed Standard Arrival Routes (STARs) to flexible or even
dynamic landing path selection. At present, airport arrivals are handled using fixed flight paths
that guarantee safety through deconfliction. We are interested here in the prospects for
moving away from this and the management of safety under more flexible arrangements for
both pilots and controllers. This step-change may have benefits in terms of fuel saving,
efficiency, capacity and noise control but at the same time would be contingent on accurate
navigation, novel decision support based on cutting-edge optimisation techniques and
significant understanding of the consequences for pilot and controller performance.
Furthermore, we anticipate that an appropriate roadmap towards flexible path landing would
consider the interaction of human, navigational and operational constraints in designing an
appropriate set of procedures and technologies. The role-holder will be expected work in an
interdisciplinary manner (drawing on computer science, human factors and navigation
expertise at the University of Nottingham) to provide an in-depth and balanced assessment of
the overall space of possibility within this grand challenge and to carry out research into
overcoming identified challenges that may involve laboratory experiments, fieldwork with
relevant industry stakeholders and simulation activities.
A successful candidate will demonstrate an interest, and take initiative, in combining multiple
perspectives across different disciplinary boundaries and act as an ambassador for the IAT to
different schools and departments within the University and the wider aerospace industry.
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
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To undertake reviews into optimisation, aerospace operations, human factors relating to
both pilots and controllers, as well as aerospace navigation/coordination.
To carry out laboratory experiments with human participants and/or undertake fieldwork
that may involve overnight stays
To deliver research as part of a collaborative multi-disciplinary team and contribute to the
achievement of specific research objectives.
To collaborate in writing papers for submission to journals and conferences and prepare
progress reports on the results of research.
To present the results of research at project progress meetings and at conferences.
To assist in the co-ordination of the research and related administrative tasks, including
liaising with external project collaborators.
This job description may be subject to revision following discussion with the person appointed
and forms part of the contract of employment.
Person Specification:
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications/  Good undergraduate degree in
 Hold (or shortly to be awarded) a
Education
engineering, computer science, human
post-graduate degree in the field of
factors, positioning & navigation or in
computer science, human factors,
a discipline closely related to this post
engineering, positioning & navigation,
or a closely related subject.
 PhD (or near to completion) or
equivalent, in computer science,
engineering, positioning & navigation
or in a discipline closely related to
this post
Skills/Training  Excellent Research skills.
 Excellent verbal and written
communication skills.
 Relevant IT and programming skills
with proven programming ability
 Relevant skills in the design,
implementation and running of
experiments with human participants
to assess human performance
 Experience with operations analysis/
optimisation methods
 Mathematical modelling experience
 Algorithm design experience
 Familiarity with positioning &
navigation
 Knowledge of ergonomics/human
factors/applied psychology or
commensurate discipline as applied
to understanding human performance
and man-machine interface design
 Experience of interdisciplinary
working
Experience
 Relevant experience or demonstrable
interest in the aerospace domain
 Experience of fieldwork
 Demonstrate creativity and
leadership in problem solving.
 Openness to interdisciplinary
perspectives in a research domain
Personal
Attributes
 Experience in a research environment.
 Research and/or industrial experience.
 Evidence of research publication.
 Ability to work with strategic rather
than task-based supervision
 Ability to work well in a team and lead
when necessary.
 Ability to work to deadlines and
prioritise tasks.
 Excellent communication and
presentation skills.
 Ability to interact professionally and
ethically with human participants in a
laboratory setting
Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Robert Houghton
(Robert.Houghton@nottingham.ac.uk, Human Factors), Dr Jason Atkin
(Jason.Atkin@Nottingham.ac.uk, Optimisation), Prof. Terry Moore
(Terry.Moore@Nottingham.ac.uk, Navigation and Positioning) or Prof Herve Morvan
(Herve.Morvan@nottingham.ac.uk, Director, Institute for Aerospace Technology, which will
host the post).
Please note that applications sent directly to these email addresses will not be accepted.