Research Associate in Materials Chemistry

Job reference: SAE-032427
Salary: UoM Grade 6 £37,694 - £46,049 per annum depending on experience
Faculty/Organisational Unit: Science and Engineering
Location: Oxford Road
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Department of Chemistry
Hours Per Week: Full time (1FTE)
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 31/10/2026
Contract Duration: Fixed term for 15 months
School/Directorate: School of Natural Sciences

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative individual to join our team as a Research Associate within the Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences. This exciting research project aims to produce ultra-thin polymer-based membranes and fluidic chips with polymers of intrinsic porosity (PIMs), to study molecular and ionic permeation for ionic gating, ionic memory applications, and molecular separations. You will be expected to publish academic papers and contribute towards advanced new concepts.

You will be responsible for:

• Conduct original research and collaborate within the group and internationally as per the project needs
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with the assistance of a mentor if required.
• Conduct individual and collaborative research projects.
• Write up research work for publication.
• Training students and others in skills appropriate to the project.

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

• A PhD (or be about to obtain) in electrochemistry, polymer science or membranes with experimental work in chemistry, materials science or chemical engineering.
• A strong publication record in internationally peer-reviewed journals and an ability to write scientific reports and contribute to writing research papers.
• Experience of working with electrochemical measurements, electrical source meters, precision electrical meters, patch-clamp amplifiers, neuromorphic measurements.
• Significant experience of nanofabrication, measurement and characterization of ultrathin membranes, 2D materials van der Waals heterostructures.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Expertise in electrochemistry.
• Experience of working in nanofluidics/membrane technologies.
• Experience in clean room micro/nanofabrication and working with 2D materials devices.
• Experience of sequencing measurements with biomolecules.

We value transferable skills and real-world experience as much as formal qualifications.

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 the University of Manchester Benefits page. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working arrangements.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions.

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Dr Ashok Keerthi or Prof Radha Boya
Email: ashok.keerthi@manchester.ac.uk or radha.boya@manchester.ac.uk 

General enquiries and administrative support

People.Recruitment@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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