Research Fellow

Full Time, Fixed Term Contract up to 30 June 2025  

Closing date: 16 May 2023

The School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham is a vibrant and thriving academic community, with over 100 academic and research staff, 20 professional services staff and over 600 students. We provide an inclusive and supportive environment where we strive to support every member of staff in realising their career potential. With a strong focus on our four Research Themes of Energy, Sustainability, Environment and Health, and a number of interdisciplinary Interest Groups serving as testbeds to explore new and emerging areas of interest, we are a dynamic place to work. We have ambitious plans to expand our research activity and are in an exciting period of growth: major investment from the University will deliver a state-of-the-art research building (opening in 2023/24), and new multi-million pound high-performance computing facilities, which will ensure UK-leading compute capability.

Job Summary

One area of growth in research activity, is in ultrafast spectroscopy. Vas Stavros and his group recently (January 2023) relocated from the University of Warwick to the University of Birmingham. The Stavros group has been working on tracking ultrafast non-radiative decay processes in molecular systems since 2005. These molecular systems have been broad-ranging; from biological building blocks to nature-based ultraviolet radiation (UVR) filters found in plants and microorganisms, as well as commercial sunscreen formulations. Together with collaborators, the Stavros team has applied ultrafast spectroscopic techniques to understand, at the molecular level, the intrinsic properties that drive photostability, photoprotection, photochemotherapy and photocatalysis (to name a few) in molecular systems. This work has subsequently resulted in the Stavros group developing two major strands of applied research. The first is aimed at developing biomimetic UVR filters. The second is based on developing molecular heaters that can be use in the agrochemical industry to protect plants from sudden cold spells.

The Stavros group is seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic early career researcher to namely: (1) help relocate the current laser laboratory from the University of Warwick to a purpose-built laser laboratory in the soon-to-be commissioned Molecular Sciences Building (MSB) on the Birmingham campus; (2) contribute towards developing new ultrafast spectroscopic experimental methodologies within this laser laboratory; (3) use these tools to carry out spectroscopic experiments in gas, solution, and condensed phases on non-radiative decay processes in molecular systems; (4) analyse and interpret data and write up manuscripts for publication; and (5) contribute towards the supervision of PhD and Masters-level students.

The successful candidate will have a first degree in Chemistry or Physics and normally, PhD, or be near completion, or equivalent qualifications. They will also have fluency in ultrafast spectroscopic methods and have the ability to contribute to developing new ones.

For further information please contact Professor Vas Stavros, v.stavros@bham.ac.uk or telephone 02476 150127.

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the Apply Online button below or visit our careers website; https://edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_6001/job/1841/?utm_medium=jobshare, please quote Job Ref 101437 in all enquiries. 

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