Research Associate (Actinide Materials Recycle and Solution Process Chemistry)

Job reference: SAE-032141
Salary: £37,694 - £46,049 per annum depending on relevant experience
Faculty/Organisational Unit: Science and Engineering
Location: Manchester
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Dalton Nuclear Institute
Hours Per Week: 35
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 23/09/2026
Contract Duration: start as soon as possible contract length dependent on start date, post funding expires 31/03/2031
School/Directorate: FSE Research Institutes

This Research Associate (RA) will form an integral part of the Actinides Centre of Excellence (ACE), which is a collaboration between the University of Manchester and AWE, and has the intention to grow by the inclusion of other national partners and universities. This role represents an exciting opportunity by helping to establish ACE (https://www.awe.co.uk/2026/06/awe-and-the-university-of-manchester-launch-actinides-centre-of-excellence/) - a national hub of collaborative research activity that aims to progress fundamental and low TRL Actinide Science & Innovation, intends to attract and train cohorts of future nuclear talent, and create tomorrow’s Subject Matter Experts. This role is part of a commitment from both the University of Manchester and AWE to advancing actinides research and innovation across thematic areas including materials recycle and solution process chemistry, and will play a pivotal part in shaping our future research landscape in nuclear science and engineering.

The RA will be responsible for undertaking experimental research in actinide process chemistry and chemical engineering to assist in the development, optimization and sustainability of advanced actinide recovery processes. This role provides the opportunity to work across multiple projects over the term of the post delivering high priority actinide research needs for AWE as determined by the ACE management team. Experimental research activities are likely to vary from, for example, understanding actinide speciation in a wide range of solution process conditions to undertaking scale up experiments to support the design of advanced actinide recovery processes. Processes of interest may involve (but are not limited to):

• Dissolution
• Ion exchange/adsorption
• Solvent extraction, precipitation
• Electrodeposition operations;

across primarily aqueous systems but could also involve organic and molten salt media. It is expected this research associate will closely engage with the other ACE research focus areas in analysis & spectroscopy and solid state science, and contribute to the growth of ACE activities with the involvement of new partners and expanded research interests. This role, therefore, offers a significant opportunity to develop a wide range of high-level skills and expertise providing a clear pathway to become a highly valued subject matter expert for the nuclear sector.

(Grades 6-9)

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

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Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Clint Sharrad (Deputy Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute)

Email: clint.a.sharrad@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries and administrative support

recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical and job portal support

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

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