Research Assistant

Location: Bay Campus, Swansea

About The University

Swansea University is a research-led university that has been making a difference since 1920. The University community thrives on exploration and discovery and offers the right balance of excellent teaching and research, matched by an enviable quality of life.

Our stunning waterfront campuses and multicultural community make us a desirable workplace for colleagues from around the world. Our reward and benefits, and ways of working enable those who join us to have enriching careers, matched by an excellent work-life balance.

About The Role

As from 1st March 2026, a Research Assistant is required (for a period of 36 months) to conduct research as part of the IGNITE programme, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce, LSN Diffusion and the Universities of Leicester, Sheffield and Warwick. Birmingham, Oxford, Manchester, Sheffield and Imperial. IGNITE stands for Indigenous Green-steel for Net-zero Innovation, Technology and Enterprise and is funded by an £11M investment from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as part of their flagship Sustainable Manufacturing Research Hubs program. It is complemented by £11.9M in partner funding. The primary goal of IGNITE is to deliver strategic, environmental and economic resilience for key strategic areas of the UK manufacturing economy including defence, transport and energy.

The post holder will be based in the Faculty of Science & Engineering on the Bay Campus, using equipment and facilities within the Institute of Structural Materials (ISM), the Engineering North facilities (MACH1) and the Pilot Manufacturing Research Centre (PMRC) in Baglan. The main research activities of the conjoining departments are the manufacture, mechanical, material and electrochemical characterisation of high performance, advanced materials.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity in all its practices and activities. We aim to establish an inclusive environment and welcome diverse applications from the following protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic and national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.

As an inclusive and welcoming workplace, we value people for their skills regardless of their background. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English.

Welsh Language Skills

The Welsh language level required for this role is Level 1 - A little. The role holder will be able to pronounce Welsh words, answer the phone in Welsh (good morning/afternoon) and use very basic everyday words and phrases (thank you, please etc.). Level 1 can be reached by completing a 1 hour course.

The University is a proud bilingual institution, our Welsh Language Strategy outlines our aspiration to promote the language and enable our staff to engage with the language as an additional workplace skill and as a gateway to new cultural and social opportunities. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English. Welsh speakers have the right to an interview in Welsh.

Closing Date: 20 January 2026

Interview Date: 5 February 2026

Informal Enquiries

• Prof David Penney d.penney@swansea.ac.uk
• Prof Nick Lavery n.p.lavery@swansea.ac.uk

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