About us: The Centre for Fine Print Research (CFPR) at UWE Bristol is a distinctive centre of research excellence. It boasts a strong reputation that attracts world-class collaborators across a wide range of sectors, including fine art, design, material science and engineering. Established 22 years ago, the Centre for Fine Print Research has a mission to innovate, contemplate and understand all aspects of print history, practice, manufacturing and materials. Our interdisciplinary approach, critical for spearheading new insights have a specific focus on addressing: Transformative Technologies for Practice-led Design; Innovative Print Techniques Reconstructing Historic Reprographic Methods; and Novel Print Processes and Materials for Physical and Tactile Surfaces.
This post will be based in the Centre for Fine Print Research as part of the EPSRC funded project Woodbury and Lippmann: A new approach to continuous tone and full colour non-impact printing. The technical objective of the project is to create 21st century disruptive printing technologies by interpreting reprographic methods from the 19th century, exploiting the unsurpassed benchmark photomechanical processes invented by Woodbury, Lippmann, Poitevin and Swann with modern technology and cutting-edge colloidal chemistry. This will include:
It is anticipated that the research will result in practical applications for the packaging, security printing and fashion industries. The project lead aims to transfer research results into industrial high value applications and hereby maximize the value of the research investment. Initially concentrating on the security needs of the packaging industry, by developing a traceable seal, which is hard to fake.
About you: The post holder will be responsible for undertaking research as part of the team to meet the objectives of the project. The role will include the development of new inks and the reprogramming of print platforms to allow the layered printing of functional materials. You will support the project lead in writing outputs and will be expected to give presentations at conferences and other public facing events in their own right. You will also design and source specialist printer parts, document the tests undertaken, collate data and analyse results, maintain contacts and communication with the project partners and support preparation of results for dissemination activity. Ideally, we are looking for someone with a background in colloidal chemistry, liquid crystals, conservation of cultural heritage or optics.
About UWE Bristol: We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West with over 30,000 students, 250,000 alumni and 3,800 staff. We are both globally connected and regionally embedded, with strong employer and partner connections. Our staff and students come from over 160 countries making this a diverse, dynamic and rewarding place to work and study.
We are an ambitious university. Together, our people are working hard to advance knowledge, inspire people and transform futures. We are looking for people with the skills and ambition to help us achieve those aims.
We have a lot to be proud of at UWE, our achievements include an impressive 88% overall student satisfaction in the most recent National Student Satisfaction survey, placing us 2nd of all universities in England and 7th in the UK. We are 6th in the UK for postgraduate student satisfaction (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey) and importantly, 96% of UWE Bristol graduates are in employment or further study within six months after graduation. We have also achieved TEF Gold status, have been ranked 21st in The Guardian Best UK Universities 2021 and 29th in the latest Times Higher Education 'Table of Tables'.
Bristol itself is a hub of social and cultural activity and is a big pull for students and employers alike. A city with a creative and fiercely independent mindset, a vibrant music scene, great restaurants and interesting business ventures. Bristol was the first British city to win the European Green Capital award in 2015, The Sunday Times newspaper named Bristol the best city to live in Britain thanks to its culture, nightlife and proximity to beautiful countryside while National Geographic listed Bristol as 11th in the world's 'cool list' destinations, ahead of Paris and Amsterdam, so it’s not surprising Bristol is consistently named as one of the best places to live and work in the UK.
This post is based at our City Campus in Bristol city centre which comprises of Bower Ashton Studios, Arnolfini, Spike Island and Watershed and is home to UWE Bristol's creative and cultural subjects. Through a combination of University sites and partnerships with creative and cultural organisations in the city, we have developed a network of cultural and creative spaces. These enable our students and staff to develop their professional practice in inspiring learning environments as well as provide opportunities for creative collaboration and networking.
In addition to progressive pay rates, UWE Bristol offers a wide range of employee benefits including:
Further information
If you would like an informal discussion about this opportunity please contact Susanne Klein on 07816 142789 or email: susanne.klein@uwe.ac.uk
This is a full-time post, fixed-term for two years.
UWE is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity to create an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who share our ambition to be a university recognised for the success and impact of our practice-oriented programmes; our strong industry networks and our inclusive global outlook.