Research Assistant/Associate in Silicon Carbide in Power Electronics (Fixed Term)

A full time position is available for a Research Assistant/Associate in the Department of Engineering, to work on the characterization of materials for Silicon Carbide devices, as part of a project in Power Electronics, commencing in July 2026. The successful candidate will have obtained or be about to complete a PhD in the relevant field. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience in the use of advanced electron microscopy techniques for the study of materials and devices, including cross-sectional device preparation and analysis. Evidence of research outputs through international peer-reviewed publications and/or conference contributions, particularly in electron microscopy of materials and devices, is desirable.

The post holder will be located in West Cambridge, UK. For electron microscopy experiments and data analysis the post holder will be based at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, Wolfson Electron Microscopy Suite.

The key responsibilities and duties are:

• Characterization of power semiconductor devices by electron microscopy. This will include FIB sectioning and STEM-based analysis of devices, data analysis.
• Assisting with other semiconductor device projects.
• Assisting with supervisions of PhD, MPhil, MSc and MEng students. Developing research objectives and proposals joint research and conduct collaborative research projects.
• Writing up research work for presentation and publication.
• Continually updating knowledge and understanding in field of power devices with special emphasis on wide bandgap materials and technologies.
• Managing own research and administrative activities, with guidance if required.
• Assisting in the preparation of proposals and applications to external bodies, e.g. for funding and contractual purposes; communicating material of a specialist or highly technical nature.

The skills, qualifications and experience required to perform the role are: PhD-level experience of FIB preparation of cross sectional devices, and of advanced STEM techniques for imaging, diffraction and EELS spectroscopy. Experience of python-based data analysis of STEM data.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 21 months or until 31 March 2028, whichever comes soonest in the first instance.

Research Assistant: £33,002 - £35,608

Research Associate: £37,694 - £46,049

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above. 

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter and a publication list in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact Michyla Castle, Department of Engineering, CAPE, 9 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0FA (Tel +44 (0)1223 748321, Fax +44 (0)1223 748322, email: mc2149@cam.ac.uk. For queries of a technical nature, please contact Caterina Ducati by email: cd251@cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference NM49744 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Advert information