Plutonium Ceramics Research Associate/Fellow

Job reference: SAE-029804
Salary: £47,389 to £58,225 per annum depending on relevant experience
Faculty/Organisational Unit: Science and Engineering
Location: Oxford Road
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Hours Per Week: Full Time
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 05/11/2025
Contract Duration: From November 2025 for 60 months
School/Directorate: School of Engineering

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) is seeking to appoint a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow within the newly established Plutonium Ceramics Academic Hub at the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield (PUMaS) funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

As a member of the PUMaS Hub you will be based within state-of-the-art facilities in the NFCE and the Henry Royce Institute, the UKs center for advanced materials science, giving access to leading materials science and engineering techniques.

You will focus on powder processing, fabrication, characterisation and radiation testing of mixed oxide ceramics using both surrogate and active materials, utilizing dedicated glovebox facilities. You will use advanced characterisation techniques to relate manufacturing processes to performance to underpin development of wasteforms specifications, working closely with partners at University of Sheffield on other ceramic wasteform candidates.

You will also be a key member of the supervisory team of the PhD student cohorts, supporting their training and development in technical and soft skills. In addition, you will also work closely with industry partners within NDA and wider NDA group/supply chain to build positive relationships and develop independent research projects with wider industry and academic partners.

As this role involves research at a postgraduate level, applicants who are not an EEA national or a national of an exempt country and who will require sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route of the UK Visas and Immigration’s (UKVI) Points Based System in order to take up the role, will be required to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate and will need to obtain this prior to making any official visa application UKVI.

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

Please be aware that due to the number of applications we are unfortunately not able to provide individual feedback on your application.

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Any recruitment enquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to People.Recruitment@manchester.ac.uk.

Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Dr Robert Harrison

Email: r.w.harrison@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email: People.recruitment@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

0161 850 2004 https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

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