Research Assistant in Photopatterning and Self-assembly of Sustainable Materials

Location: South Kensington Campus, London 

Job Summary

The Department of Chemical Engineering is seeking a Research Assistant (Early Career Researcher, ECR) to work on photopatterning and self-assembly of sustainable materials. The post is integrated within Doctoral Network ESPERANTO (Enhancing the Sustainability of PhotopolymERs ANd phoToinduced prOcesses), involving 8 academic and 8 industrial partners across Europe. The project seeks to improve the sustainability of photopolymers, stimulate the industrial use of photopolymerisation processes, and train a new generation of skilled researchers in advanced, green materials and processes. 

The specific role for post concerns the development of a modelling and experimental framework for the design and fabrication of sustainable photopolymers/processes, with reduced chemical and energy consumption, low failure rates and material waste. By precisely controlling the spatio-temporal conversion, the postholder will fabricate 2 and 3D advanced materials with spontaneous assembly and function. The postholder will participate in consortium training and development activities, undertake secondments with industrial and academic partners, submit publications to refereed journals and present findings to the larger consortium and at international conferences. 

This is an excellent opportunity to work on a challenging research project at a leading academic institution, within an EU network, and develop multidisciplinary research and leadership skills. To comply with funding conditions, must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment. At the time of selection, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work or studies) in the UK for more than 12 months in the past three years. The successful candidate will benefit from two exchanges at an academic (6 m) and industrial (3 m) partner abroad, and frequent training and meetings at other network partners. 

The successful candidate will be expected to register for PhD at Imperial College London. 

Duties and responsibilities

You will develop and extend models to describe photopolymerisation processes (the conversion of a monomer into a polymer with light). You will experimental data on promising chemical systems for validation of the models, and incorporate efficiency and sustainability in the models (enabling a reduction of chemical and energy consumption, and new green chemistries). You will develop functional materials and design their assembly in 2 and 3D. Working with other members of the consortium, you develop new green materials and processes, and integrate these into for real-world applications.

Essential requirements

The following essential knowledge, skills & experience are sought:

• MRes, MSc, or equivalent degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, or closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience
• Experience of analytical and numerical modelling physical-chemistry systems
• Experience in a broad range of physical-chemistry techniques (DSC, AFM, XRD, profilometry, lithography, etc)
• Practical experience with photopolymerisation, 3D printing, or origami techniques
• Practical experience within a research environment and / or publication in relevant and refereed journals
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team

Further Information

The contract will run for 36 months in the first instance, with the possibility of an extension thereafter. The post is based in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London (South Kensington Campus).

Informal enquiries about the post can be made to Professor João Cabral  (j.cabral@imperial.ac.uk)

To apply, please visit https://www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/. You can find this vacancy by searching either the position title or job number: ENG02558. Candidates will need to complete an online application.

Further information about the post is available in the job description.

Should you have any queries about the application process please contact chemeng.staffing@imperial.ac.uk.

Closing date: Midnight on 26^th April 2023

For technical issues when applying online please email support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk

The College is currently trialling a Work Location Framework until early 2023. Hybrid working may be considered for this role and the role holder may be expected to work 60% or more of their time onsite, with 40% the minimum time spent onsite. The opportunity for hybrid working will be discussed at interview.

The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/

The College believes that the use of animals in research is vital to improve human and animal health and welfare. Animals may only be used in research programmes where their use is shown to be necessary for developing new treatments and making medical advances. Imperial is committed to ensuring that, in cases where this research is deemed essential, all animals in the College’s care are treated with full respect, and that all staff involved with this work show due consideration at every level.

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-integrity/animal-research/ 

Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment. We are an Athena SWAN Silver award winner, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident Employer and work in partnership with GIRES to promote respect for trans people.