NWTF is hiring an Experimental Database Coordinator
Job Title: Experimental Database Coordinator
Location: University of Loughborough
Contract Type: Full time and fixed term until 31 March 2026
Salary: £32,348 – £42,155 per annum
Apply here: https://vacancies.lboro.ac.uk/tlive_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACANCY_ID=073514PEgq&WVID=5913100PrZ&LANG=USA
Job Purpose:
To lead the development and delivery of an experimental database for the EPSRC National Wind Tunnel Facility.
The UK National Wind Tunnel Facility (NWTF https://www.nwtf.ac.uk), is coordinated by Imperial College London. This initiative involves 22 tunnels distributed across 11 UK universities which are open to external users, both university and industry based. This post comes as the current project moves into a new phase with a greater emphasis on developing a UK and international community network.
This post will lead the development and delivery of an experimental database for the EPSRC National Wind Tunnel Facility (NWTF) Network grant. The NWTF contains a wide range of experimental facilities that generate high quality measurements in a variety of application areas. However, the dissemination of this data is variable and this post will work with groups across the UK to ensure that data is made openly available and that this is accessible, understandable and consistent across the research groups. As such the postholder may be required to make short multi-day visits to other Universities to help facilitate the extraction of data. An example of a typical dataset is available on the Loughborough University data repository: https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Windsor_Body_Experimental_Aerodynamic_Dataset/13161284
Job Duties:
• To develop best practice guidelines for test planning, data collection, data recording and ease of use for CFD community
• To collect, curate and disseminate datasets that have been obtained from NWTF facilities.
• Promotion of the NWTF experimental database nationally and internationally
• Hosting of network meetings to improve dissemination and utilisation of experimental data
• Working with facilities to measure and document key information (e.g., wind tunnel inlet conditions and geometry)
• To collaborate and work with other staff within the department, at Imperial College London and across the National Wind Tunnel Facility network.
• To write reports, conference and journal papers on the outcomes and make presentations on the work to relevant industrial research groups and at appropriate seminars/workshops/conferences etc.
• To engage in training programmes in the University (e.g., through Staff Development) and elsewhere as required.
• To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably requested and that are commensurate with the nature and grade of the post.
Person Specification
Your application will be reviewed against the essential and desirable criteria listed below. Applicants are strongly advised to explicitly state and evidence how they meet each of the essential (and desirable) criteria in their application. Stages of assessment are as follows:
1 – Application: 2 – Test/Assessment Centre/Presentation: 3 – Interview
Essential Criteria
| Area | Criteria | Stage |
| Experience | Recent relevant experience in an Academic or Industrial research environment. | 1,3 |
| Undertaken measurements in a wind tunnel facility. | 1,3 | |
| Processing of experimental data. | 1,3 | |
| Skills and abilities | Ability to work independently and as part of a team. | 1,2,3 |
| Good communication skills. | 1,2,3 | |
| Ability to write project reports and to make technical presentations to industrial and academic research groups. | 1,2,3 | |
| Extensive knowledge of relevant techniques and methodologies. | 1,2,3 | |
| Proven organisational skills and ability to work flexibly and independently. | 1,3 | |
| Proven communication skills and ability to interact effectively with trainees, students and staff. | 1,3 | |
| Proactive and able to work under own initiative with the ability to prioritise workload to meet objectives. | 1,3 | |
| High level of I.T. skills including knowledge of CAD, programming and scripting. | 1,3 | |
| Training | A willingness and ability to undertake further training, as appropriate and to adopt new procedures as and when required. | 1,3 |
| Demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role. | 1,3 | |
| Qualifications | Good honours Degree in a related discipline or significant equivalent experience. | 1,3 |
| Other | Commitment to observing the University’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion policies. | 1,3 |
| Willingness to travel. | 1,3 | |
| Commitment to observing Health and Safety regulations at all times. | 1,3 | |
| An understanding of UKRI Open Access requirements. | 1,3 | |
| Skills and abilities | Familiarity with python, Tecplot and web page creation. | 1,2,3 |
| Familiarity with a wide variety of aerodynamic applications ranging from sports aerodynamics through to hypersonics. | 1,3 | |
| Qualifications | PhD or equivalent experience in experimental or computational aerodynamics | 1,3 |
| Experience | Experience of processing aerodynamics/fluid mechanics experimental datasets. | 1,3 |
Organisational Responsibility
Reports to: Principal Investigator, LU EPSRC NWTF Network Grant
