Northumbria University Research Technical Professional Retraining Fellowship

Research Technical Professional retraining and reskilling opportunity with a Daphne Jackson RTP Fellowship hosted by Northumbria University 

The Daphne Jackson Trust has launched a new fellowship for Research Technical Professionals (RTP) who have taken a career break of at least two years for family, health or caring reasons and want to return to a technical role in research.  This fellowship offers a personalised retraining and reskilling programme for the successful applicant.  

Applications are now being invited for a Daphne Jackson Research Technical Professional Fellowship within the School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics at Northumbria University. This could be either at one-year full time, 18-month part time at 0.75FTE or a two-year, part-time at 0.5FTE or another combination to suit the applicant. This opportunity is designed for individuals returning to work in a technical field within Engineering or Physics and is based in the Ellison Building on our City Campus in Newcastle upon Tyne. 

You will join a collaborative community of researchers and technical professionals, contributing to one of the School’s specialist areas aligned to your background and expertise. While the role will focus on a specific discipline within Physics or Engineering, you will also have opportunities to work alongside colleagues from related fields, supporting interdisciplinary research and teaching activities. Our world-leading research is closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with active research groups spanning areas such as climate change, resilient infrastructure, sustainable energy systems and materials and space science. 

You will be encouraged to enhance your existing skills and develop expertise in one or more specialist areas while building a broad and versatile technical skillset. 

Within Engineering, you will have the opportunity to work with advanced equipment across a range of disciplines, including materials testing, rapid prototyping, PCB manufacturing, high-voltage systems, battery testing, nanocomposites, wind tunnel and/or civil engineering materials. 

Within the Physics Department, you could work with thin-film deposition systems, microscopy and analytical techniques (SEM, FIB, XRD and profilometry), as well as high-intensity lasers, optical communication technologies and solar simulations. 

We are looking for an individual with a degree in a relevant subject or equivalent practical/professional experience with experience of working in a laboratory, workshop, technical, or similar practical environment prior to your career break. You will have an understanding of H&S requirements, relevant scientific or engineering principles, and the use of technical equipment or systems. 

Further details about the role can be found here

For further information about these opportunities at Northumbria University please contact Demelza Menendez (demelza.menendez@northumbria.ac.uk). 

For further details about the role, eligibility criteria or to apply, please email via the 'Apply' button above (E: djmft@surrey.ac.uk).  To find out more about the Daphne Jackson Trust and other fellowship opportunities please visit www.daphnejackson.org 

Please note that for this re-training Research Technical Professional Fellowship a PhD is not a requirement. The role is designed to support individuals returning to a technical career path. However, candidates interested in applying for certain Scientific Officer roles in some areas of Physics, should be aware that postgraduate study may be required, reflecting the higher level of specialisation associated with these positions. 

Closing date for applications is Monday 14^th September 2026 

Following shortlisting by the Daphne Jackson Trust, Northumbria University will undertake an internal selection process to identify the preferred candidates.

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