Professor & Academic Lead of Automated Distribution & Manufacturing Centre (ADMC)

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The Automation and Manufacturing at our Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre (ADMC) requires a Professor and Academic Lead to advance the development and uptake of robotics & automation for the distribution and manufacturing sector. Working extensively with technology providers, the centre will be configured the centre such that is designed to address the existing and future challenges faced by both Large Enterprises (LEs) and Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The public sector partners Ashfield District Council, Vision West Notts College and Nottingham Trent University have secured funding from Ashfield’s Towns Fund Deal, as a part of a £30m investment, for the construction of the ADMC.

The vision is to create a nationally and potentially internationally recognised centre, modelled largely on the UK’s existing Catapult Centres. The concept has the support of Innovate UK, D2N2 LEP, Make UK and the MTC who will work with the centre. The ADMC will be a purpose built multifunctional centre, with space allocated for research and development, new product development and testing, education and skills development, technology showcasing, networking, collaboration and event hosting. It will encompass researchers, engineers and technical specialists both directly employed and from a range of partners and stakeholders. Early-stage innovation will be supported by a combination of universities, equipment suppliers, systems integrators and client businesses in order to create partnerships and products which can be designed, developed and tested.

For testing the ADMC will provide space where suppliers can develop and test innovative solutions for client businesses, without compromising areas of the client facilities and staff resources. This also provides the opportunity to explore ideas and opportunities for improved productivity through automation. There will be a strong focus on systems integration across the whole supply chain.

Skills development and training in collaboration with Vision West Notts, College and University partners and the ADMC will allow employers to meet the increasing needs of talent and upskilling to match the advances in innovation and technology.

Industry partnerships and interdisciplinary research will also be supported through collaboration with the School of Science and Technology and across the University, in addition to academic partnerships with leading national and international companies based within the process and manufacturing sectors.

At NTU, we recognise that our greatest strengths lie in the energy, expertise, and experience that our colleagues bring. Thanks to our £421 million investment in estates and equipment across our four campuses since 2003/4, we deliver an inspirational learning environment for both staff and students. Our research facilities allow us to shape lives and society, which is central to our mission and achievements of our aims. NTU has received national recognition, winning the University of the Year and the Times and Sunday Times Modern University of the Year awards alongside TEF Gold Rating. Our rise in the league tables, alongside several prestigious national awards, demonstrate the potential that creating and forging excellent partnerships, while harnessing the talents of all our people, can bring. Most notably we have been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for our pioneering research. We are now looking for more passionate, ambitious people to join us and help build the university of the future.

We welcome applicants from all engineering backgrounds, especially those with expertise related to the delivery and integration of infrastructure in a digital manufacturing, robotics, automation and process environments.

The successful applicant will have a strong academic profile in research and teaching within the discipline and the ability to integrate a range of technologies and systems i.e., industrial robotics, corobotic systems, autonomous mobile robots and sensor, actuator integration. Interfacing with senior representatives from businesses, retailers and the scientific community are key elements of the role, and the post holder will therefore be experienced in cross-academic and industry collaboration and working with senior representatives from industry. They will also provide student support as appropriate, act as personal tutor to students and act as first line contact for advice and support on academic matters. This may include supervision of research degree students and student projects and placements as appropriate.

The successful applicant will also help to encourage new research talent within the centre, whilst further developing their own individual research profile. This is an excellent opportunity to develop and demonstrate your research leadership. The successful candidate is expected to have an international reputation with a successful track record of internationally leading research outputs, income generation and capacity building.

To make a formal application, please click here: https://andersonquigley.com/opportunity/professor-academic-lead-of-automated-distribution-and-manufacturing-centre-nottingham-trent-university/

About NTU

NTU prides itself on being an inclusive employer. We value and celebrate equality in opportunities, and we encourage applications from people who reflect the diversity of our communities.

This role is open to non-UK/Irish applicants subject to current UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) rules. Please ensure that you have the appropriate right to work in the UK for this role and consult the Home Office website for further information.

This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and successful applicants will be asked to declare any unspent criminal convictions.