A position is available in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge for a Research Associate to perform research into soil-machine interaction with a focus on robotics-related problems.
The post holder will be located in West Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK.
The successful candidate will contribute to a growing research effort focused on Soil-Machine Interaction and work closely with both national and international academic and industry partners. The role involves the development of novel experimental approaches as well as theoretical and numerical developments.
Key responsibilities include:
* Contributing to basic research into the fundamentals of soil-machine interaction. Exploring how soil influences the response of machines traversing over the ground and specifically how they can be aware of, and react to, the soil conditions they find themselves in.
* Collaborating with academics, junior researchers, and international collaborators on this growing field at the nexus of several disciplines.
* Assisting with the management of a growing research group working in the area of soil-machine interaction.
* Applying for research grants to support additional complementary research activities.
This position offers the opportunity to contribute to potentially transformative research at the intersection of traditional soil mechanics and robotics. Applicants are expected to have a PhD in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, information engineering, or a related discipline. They should also have excellent written and spoken communication skills in English and a strong record of academic and/or professional achievement.
Salary Range: 37, ,049 GBP
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 36 months in the first instance.
Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.
Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV; including a list of publications) and a supporting letter in the Upload section of the online application. The supporting statement should cover your motivation for the post, a point-by-point account of how you meet each of the selection criteria, and strictly one journal publication/draft, conference paper, or report that exemplifies the quality of your research. This may include experience gained in employment, education, or during career breaks (such as time out to care for dependants). If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.
If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact Dr Jim Hambleton ) and Dr Sam Stanier ). For queries about the application process, please contact Sara Horsfield ).
Please quote reference NM47409 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Key information
Department/location
Department of Engineering
Salary
£37,694-£46,049
Reference
NM47409
Category
Research
Date published
26 September 2025
Closing date
24 October 2025