Research Associate/Assistant – Developing AI-Driven Models for Automotive Material Selection and Manufacturability Assessment Using Deep Learning and Physics-Based Simulation Databases

Job Description

Job title: Research Associate/Assistant – Developing AI-Driven Models for Automotive Material Selection and Manufacturability Assessment Using Deep Learning and Physics-Based Simulation Databases

Company: Imperial College London

Job description: Job Summary

We invite applications for a Research Associate/Assistant position focused on developing an advanced AI-based platform. This platform is designed to assist designers in rapidly evaluating the manufacturability of sheet stamping components, ensuring optimal design and material selections. This role is part of the exciting ‘AI-Driven Automotive Material Selection and Structural Design for Manufacturing’ project, funded by Innovate UK Smart Grants. The project aims to address real industrial challenges through collaboration with industrial partners.

As the successful candidate, you will join a multidisciplinary team with expertise in design engineering, manufacturing, and software development. You will lead the design and development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, including a material encoding model and a manufacturability surrogate model, using advanced deep learning neural networks. This role is critical in delivering a disruptive solution that utilises AI techniques for the instantaneous design and optimisation of lightweight, efficient vehicle components.

Duties and responsibilities

• Define deep learning neural network architectures for the material encoder and manufacturability surrogate AI models.
• Prepare datasets by processing material and stamping simulation data, provided by an industrial partner, into AI-compatible formats.
• Train, test, and evaluate the combined material model and manufacturability surrogate model.
• Support the industrial partner in integrating the developed dual AI model framework into their software backend and test the integration.
• Assist with tasks related to software platform development and user testing, mainly undertaken by the industrial partner.
• Ensure the validity and reliability of data at all times.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of all findings.
• Write or assist in writing reports for research sponsors.
• Submit publications to refereed journals and/or conferences.
• Assist with the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students as required.

Essential requirements

• PhD, or near finishing their PhD, in a relevant subject such as computing, data science, mathematics, design engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, aeronautical engineering, materials, etc. (*Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant.)
• AI in engineering, more specifically, developing deep learning neural networks and processing scalar/image/graph-based databases.
• Practical experience within an interdisciplinary research environment and publishing in refereed journals/conferences.
• Knowledge of data-driven modelling, deep learning (such as CNN), and optimisation.
• Skilled in working in a multidisciplinary environment and effectively collaborating with other researchers / subject experts from other areas for interdisciplinary research.
• Skilled in Programming using Python and MATLAB.
• Ability to conduct a detailed review of recent literature.

Further Information

Full time (FTE of 1.0) for 6 months (start date 1st February 2024). Contract extension is possible.

Should you require any further details on the role and how to apply, please contact: Dr Nan Li , with your up-to-date CV attached.

Closing date: 15/Jan/2024

The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see

Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment. We are an Athena SWAN Silver award winner, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident Employer and work in partnership with GIRES to promote respect for trans people.

£43,888 to £49,305 per annum

Expected salary: £43888 – 49305 per year

Location: London

Job date: Sat, 23 Dec 2023 07:29:23 GMT

Apply for the job now!