Postdoctoral Research Associate

About the Role

This PDRA position is part of Dr. Xuekun Lu’s ERC Consolidator Grant project TWIN-SiNERGY, which aims to address the fundamental limitations of Si-based electrodes through innovative materials and electrode engineering strategies. The successful candidate will undertake pioneering research to design and fabricate advanced porous Si materials and electrodes, spanning particle-level design to electrode-scale architecture, using sustainable and scalable approaches. The interplay between material and property and the electro-chemo-mechanical processes will then be revealed by state-of-the-art electrochemical techniques alongside operando spectroscopic and imaging methods to understand performance evolution in real time.

This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the interface of materials science, electrochemistry, and advanced characterisation, with direct relevance to the development of next-generation automotive energy storage technologies.

About You

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong expertise in materials science, electrochemistry, or a closely related discipline, with a clear track record of research excellence and the ability to work independently within a multidisciplinary environment.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• A PhD (or near completion) in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field
• Proven research experience in lithium-ion batteries, particularly in electrode materials (e.g. silicon, graphite, or composite anodes)
• Hands-on experience in electrochemical characterisation techniques (e.g. galvanostatic cycling, cyclic voltammetry, EIS)
• Experience in materials synthesis and electrode fabrication (e.g. slurry casting, coating, or advanced structuring methods)
• A strong publication record in high-quality peer-reviewed journals (commensurate with career stage)

About the School/Department/Institute/Project

The School of Engineering and Materials Science (SEMS) is a large, research-intensive School within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, comprising over 110 academic staff and a vibrant community of approximately 2,700 undergraduate and taught postgraduate students, alongside more than 250 PhD researchers.

SEMS is part of Queen Mary University of London, one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities, recognised for delivering world-class education and impactful research. The School offers a dynamic and interdisciplinary research culture, ranked 7th overall in the UK for research excellence in REF2021, and 2nd nationally for world-leading research outputs.

About Queen Mary

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits

We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed-term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and campus facilities.

Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. We are open to considering applications from candidates wishing to work flexibly.

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