Research Fellow

Fixed term Until December 2028

Full time – 37 hours per week

Closing date 12/07/26 at 23:30

The role

The National HIPIMS Technology Centre at Sheffield Hallam University is looking to recruit a PhD-level research fellow on a fixed-term basis in the field of thin film materials design and coating growth by physical vapour deposition. The successful candidate will have considerable experience with using deposition systems for nanoscale multilayer coatings and industrial scale deposition systems based on High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering, conventional magnetron sputtering or low temperature plasma technology.  They will be versed in thin film deposition and materials characterisation methods and analysis including XRD, electron microscopy, Raman Spectroscopy and mechanical characterisation techniques for tribology and high-temperature oxidation.  They should be familiar with process monitoring techniques.

Responsibilities will include writing refereed publications, managing parts of a multi-partner international project, advising PhD students and delivering presentations at international conferences.

The candidate will join currently running projects with partners in the UK and abroad from academia and industry utilising High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering to design and produce thin films and coatings for industrial applications and fundamental research and development.

 The team/The department

The National HIPIMS Technology Centre, is the only one of its kind in the UK. It hosts a dynamic team which delivers a competitive advantage to regional, national and international businesses and encourages economic growth through fundamental plasma research and applied research in the field of the HIPIMS technology.

High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS) technology was upscaled for the first time at Sheffield Hallam University and is now marketed by industry worldwide.

The high adhesion and density of HIPIMS coatings enhances protection ability against harsh environments with high temperature oxidation, wear and corrosion such as aerospace and power generation gas turbines, automotive engine components, hydraulic parts, cutting tools as well as in more delicate long life environments such as biomedical implants. The high density of the films brings performance enhancements in semiconductor wafer packaging, photovoltaic cell layers (absorber, back and front contacts) and antibacterial treatment.

The National HIPIMS Technology Centre sits within the Materials and Engineering Research Institute.

You can find out more about the National HIPIMS Technology Centre

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