Graduate Research Assistant

The above full-time post is available immediately, on a fixed term basis, until the 30th April 2025.

The post
The Faculty wishes to recruit a Graduate Research Assistant to support the work of Dr Sam Broom-Fendley as part of the Innovate UK-funded Strontium Alternative Magnet Innovation Consortium (SrAMIC). The SrAMIC project is investigating the potential for a UK domestic circular supply chain for high strength strontium ferrite magnets (also known as ceramic magnets) as an alternative to, or to complement, rare earth permanent magnets used in electric traction and renewable power generation.

The project is a collaboration between Geolithical Ltd., a UK-based company exploring new critical mineral supply chain opportunities, and the University of Exeter. The work at the University of Exeter focusses on understanding and developing new sources of strontium carbonate from carbonatites, and will be carried out in collaboration with Geolithical.

The successful applicant will carry out a desk-based study investigating the Sr deportment of carbonatites and undertake pilot mineral characterisation work to investigate in detail the mineralogical deportment of at least two identified target carbonatites as sources of strontium carbonate.

About you
The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will be educated to first degree level or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study or equivalent experience and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will be able to handle data, build simple databases, write reports, have a willingness to learn mineralogical analyses (using SEM, EPMA and XRD), and have an interest in applying mineralogical results to mineral processing problems.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Cornwall.

The University of Exeter
We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024).  We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Further information
For further information please contact Dr. Sam Broom-Fendley, e-mail s.l.broom-fendley@exeter.ac.uk.

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