Duties and Responsibilities
The post-holder will undertake research as part of the EPSRC-funded project “Systems-based methods for innovation in the pharmaceutical industry”. This is a collaboration between the Centre for Process Systems Engineering, a multi-institutional research centre of world-class departments at Imperial College London and University College London, and Eli Lilly and Company, a global pharmaceutical company with strong focus on research and development.
The goal of this research partnership is to develop predictive models, based on fundamental science, to aid in process development and in the design of effective experiments via model-based experiment design techniques. The outcome of this work will provide enabling tools for achieving better designs of pharmaceutical processes.
The goal of this specific project is to develop a fluid dynamic model for the description of the flow of powders in screw mixers; these units are used in the continuous direct compression process for the manufacture of pharmaceutical tablets.
Duties and responsibilities include:
• Reviewing the relevant literature and, by employing fundamental principles and heuristic arguments, develop suitable fluid dynamic (Eulerian) models for granular flows in screw mixers.
• Developing, implementing, using and validating Eulerian models, to be solved by means of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes, for the simulation of granular flows in screw mixers.
• Developing and write numerical routines (probably in C++) to customize the CFD codes used to solve the fluid dynamic evolution equations.
• Analysing and interpret the simulation results.
• Liaising with the members of the Chemical Engineering Department, of the other Departments involved in the project, and of the industrial partner on a continual basis, to share data and develop future research and computational strategies.
• Dealing with problems that may affect the achievement of research goals and deadlines.
• Writing and assist with the drafting of internal reports and academic articles summarising research findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals of high international standing.
• Presenting research work at national and international conferences, internal research meetings and to the industrial partners (i.e., Eli Lilly).
• Contributing to the writing of bids for research funding.
The post is funded for 2 years in the first instance.
Key Requirements
The successful candidate must have (or will be soon in the process of submitting) a PhD in Chemical Engineering, or a closely related discipline. Candidates should have experience in advanced mathematical modelling, fluid dynamics (single phase and multiphase) and/or transport phenomena. They should also have successfully completed (or be about to complete) a high-quality research project using mathematical modelling and numerical solvers (such as, CFD codes or gPROMS) and should have published in relevant high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
Further Details
A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
To apply for the vacancy please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below.
If you have any queries regarding the vacancy or the application process, please contact Dr Luca Mazzei via
[email protected].
