Assistant Professor in Aviation Emissions and Combustion

School/Department:              School of Engineering 

Job Category and Level:       Academic; Assistant Professor

Post Status Tenure Track - This position is Tenure Track position which is 5-years in the first instance, permanency is subject to satisfying the tenure requirements.

The Purpose of the Role 

The School of Engineering seeks to make the Tenure Track appointment of an Assistant Professor in Aviation Emissions and Combustion. The purpose of this post is to deliver world class engineering education and build an internationally significant research programme in non-CO2 aviation emissions and their climate impact, and combustion of future fuels. The successful applicant will deliver taught modules at undergraduate and integrated master’slevels as part of the BAI/BSc/MAI Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering programme and develop new topical modules for the current Zero Carbon Technology programme, which is offered at Postgraduate Master’s, Diploma and Certificate levels. This role is being created with support from Europe’s largest airline, Ryanair, and the appointee will contribute significantly to Trinity’s Sustainable Aviation Research Centre, which has been established through the support of Ryanair.

Context 

Trinity’s School of Engineering is ranked #1 in Ireland (QS Rankings) and is a proud recipient of a Bronze Athena Swan award, attained in 2021. As part of the School's on-going actions in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion, it welcomes all applications that meet the criteria below and particularly those from under-represented groups. The school offers a collegiate and supportive environment to all its staff and works to ensure that all staff and students can perform at their best while putting in place those steps that facilitate a healthy work/life balance. 

The Discipline of Mechanical, Manufacturing & Biomedical Engineering (MMBE) is the largest of three disciplines contributing to teaching and research across the School of Engineering. There is an undergraduate complement of approximately 280 students each year in the School of Engineering. Around 150 of these undergraduates choose degree courses within the MMBE Discipline each year, in addition to 50 postgraduate MSc students and 80 PhD students. The School is particularly active in research with substantial funding being generated from research contracts from Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC)), European Research Council (ERC), Enterprise Ireland (EI), European Space Agency (ESA), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as significant industry collaborations. 

The focus for this appointment is to significantly improve understanding of the full climate effects of non-CO₂ emissions from the aviation sector. The Trinity College Dublin is committed to tackling this very significant global challenge by supporting ambitious inter-disciplinary research initiatives and by delivering high quality education for the next generation of engineers and scientists. This appointment aligns with the University’s E3 initiative to address the key challenges of our time by bringing forward balanced solutions for future society, including the need for sustainable air transport. The appointment will complement the Chair of Mechanical Engineering to develop the School’s research and educational capability in the area of aviation related emissions and combustion. The post relates to a number of other strategic appointments within Trinity to address Low Carbon Technologies and also to the launch of the new E3 Learning Foundry building that will provide critical learning spaces for the planned growth of the School of Engineering. 

The initial educational responsibilities of the position are the development and teaching of new modules in engineering science and technologies for sustainable energy and transport. In particular, the Discipline has the need to maintain delivery of existing modules in Low Carbon Transport/Power Technologies and Turbomachinery. The role will include supervision of engineering master’s research projects and undergraduate capstone projects in line with the typical work allocation within the School. The appointee will also contribute to the coordination, accreditation, and leadership of the postgraduate programmes in Zero Carbon Technology. Preference will be given to candidates who already have experience of project supervision and teaching and assessing relevant modules at undergraduate or postgraduate level to a high level of quality. 

This Assistant Professor post is expected to develop an independent programme of research in nonCO2 emissions and combustion. Specifically, the first five years of research are expected to advance the knowledge of the atmospheric impacts of non-CO2 aviation emissions, which is an important emerging area for sustainable aviation and is supported by the university’s strategic partner, Ryanair. This work will be based on winning high quality research funding, building strategic and deep collaborative relationships with international industry partners in the transport and energy technology sectors, mentoring PhD students and early career researchers in scientifically excellent work, educating and influencing public and government and delivering impactful knowledge outputs. Preference will be given to candidates who are able to demonstrate a track record of achievement in some of these areas. This research activity will complement the existing strengths of the School, such as the Sustainable Aviation Research Centre, harness the potential of inter-disciplinary expertise beyond the School, and reinforce Trinity’s international voice in engineering. 

The appointee will also contribute to teaching in other modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level as required to support the wider Discipline of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering and will participate in the administration of the Discipline as appropriate. This may include delivery of common engineering courses in 1st and 2nd year that are taught across all Disciplines in the School. 

They will have a PhD in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, or a comparable discipline closely related to the atmospheric impacts of non-CO2 emissions and combustion of future fuels, and have an excellent post-PhD record that demonstrates the potential to grow an impactful research programme of international excellence.

Person Requirements 

The role-holder will require the following knowledge, skills, and attributes for successful performance in the role. 

Qualifications 

• An undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a closely related discipline [Essential]; 

• A Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a discipline closely related to the atmospheric impacts of non-CO2 emissions and combustion of future fuels [Essential].