Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate in Cold-Water Coral in-Silico Reef Models to Investigate Habitat Loss

Grade and Salary: Grade 7 - £37,694 - £47,389 per annum

FTE and working pattern: Full-Time (35 hours per week), Fixed Term for 27 months

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days

Department / School: Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering / School of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Reports To: Dr Marta Peña Fernández

Detailed Description

Ocean acidification threatens cold-water coral reefs and could lead to dramatic and rapid loss of the habitat they make. Here we combine marine biology, material science, and engineering approaches to quantify and predict the risk and time scales of such habitat loss.

We seek a postdoctoral research associate (PDRA) for a 27-month position to work on the UK NERC-funded pushing the frontiers grant “Coralporosis of cold-water coral ecosystems - in silico reefs to model habitat loss”. The overall project is led by Marta Peña Fernández at Heriot-Watt University (https://researchportal.hw.ac.uk/en/persons/marta-peña-fernández/) and Sebastian Hennige at the University of Edinburgh (https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/sebastian-hennige/) in collaboration with investigators from University of São Paolo (Brazil), and TU Clausthal (Germany).

The project investigates the impacts of ocean acidification to cold-water coral reef habitats, and the post holder will develop an in-silico (computer-based) reef to predict future habitat loss of these vulnerable marine ecosystems. The project will build from acidification experiments on real and 3D printed coral ‘mini-reefs’ to validate and “scale-up” the simulation framework for a variety of future oceanic scenarios.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The main responsibilities for the PDRA are:

• Plan and execute work plans to progress development of in silico reef model, including simulation of coral skeletal dissolution and mechanical integrity models, where the impacts of coralporosis in real and 3D printed ‘mini-reefs’ can be interrogated dependent upon severity and duration of ocean acidification.
• Assist experiments to quantify dissolution, mechanical and material loss processes of coralporosis to inform in silico models.
• Develop methods and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued and add to the intellectual understanding of the field through new discoveries and insights.
• Disseminate and publish research findings and undertake knowledge transfer activities.
• Contribute to the overarching project goals through communication and collaboration with other project members and participating in project meetings.
• Contribute as a team member to wider activities within the Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering and the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences such as seminars and group meetings,
• Engage in professional development opportunities.

The PDRA will interact with the project team, particularly Marta Peña Fernández (Heriot-Watt University), Sebastian Hennige (University of Edinburgh), Uwe Wolfram (TU Clausthal), Mateus Morais (University of São Paolo), and a second PDRA based at the University of Edinburgh.

The PDRA will plan and manage their day-to-day work independently. The PDRA will meet regularly with Heriot-Watt and University of Edinburgh PIs to discuss approaches, progress and problems and plan the longer-term project direction, including around presentations and publications. The PDRA will also interact and plan with other project members as appropriate. Opportunities will also be available to support postgraduate and undergraduate projects in areas related to this project, and, where appropriate, to contribute to research funding applications. Mentoring will be given to support career development.

The PDRA will be based at Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh Campus. Funding is available for attendance at national and international conferences and for travel and exchange with other team members.

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

1. Applicants should a PhD in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, geochemical engineering, physics, material science, or a related subject (Applicants should have submitted their PhD thesis first draft by the start date.) broadly in one of the following areas:
   • Computational fluid dynamics of porous media
   • Reactive transport in porous media
   • Multiscale mechanics of materials (mathematically, experimentally, or theoretically)
   • Image based multiscale computational modelling
2. Experience of programming and simulation (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Fortran, Abaqus, OpenFoam, COMSOL)
3. Working with image data (e.g. micro-computed tomography)
4. Experience working in a multidisciplinary environment/team
5. Ability to work independently under appropriate supervision to a high academic standard
6. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
7. A record of high quality, peer-reviewed publications and evidence of contribution to the writing of these publications proportionate to opportunity.
8. Willingness and ability to travel for dissemination, outreach, and public engagement activities.

Desirable

1. Experience in conducting validation and material characterisation experiments (nanoindentation, macroscopic testing, or similar)
2. Experience with 3D image analysis
3. Experience with Python, OpenFoam, Abaqus or similar software
4. Experience of research-student supervision.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV & covering letter via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment.

Applications can be submitted up to 23:55 (UK time) Wednesday 02 September 2026.

We expect interviews to commence end of Sep/early Oct.

This post is advertised as full-time (35 hours per week); however, we are open to considering flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.

The intended start date is 1st November 2026, but we are able to offer some flexibility; this can be discussed as part of the recruitment procedure.

Informal enquiries on the role/project can be directed to Marta Peña Fernández (M.Pena_Fernandez@hw.ac.uk)

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximizing potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

About Heriot-Watt University

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