Postdoctoral Research Associate in Nanoparticle Chemistry (Job Number: 25000325)
Department of Chemistry
Grade 7: - £38,249 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 24 Months
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 09-Apr-2025, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A good first degree in chemistry or related subject.
• A PhD in chemistry or a related subject, with experience in wet chemical nanoparticle synthesis and modification techniques.

EXPERIENCE

• Experience in conducting high quality academic research.
• Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals (demonstrated through submitted or published papers commensurate with career stage).
• Demonstrable ability to present research papers at international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.
• Experience in transmission electron microscopy for characterisation of nanoparticulate materials and an excellent understanding of its use in this context.

SKILLS

• Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.
• Ability to work independently on own initiative carrying out a range of basic tasks in chemical laboratories and operating laboratory equipment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent awareness of Health and Safety issues and experience of drafting chemical risk assessments.

EXPERIENCE

• Familiarity with interpreting data from and hands on experience of using other relevant characterisation methods such as DRIFTS, SEM, XPS, Nitrogen porosimetry, ICP, powder XRD and XAS.
• Experience in the synthesis of silica based nanostructures or nanoparticle coatings.

SKILLS

1. Demonstrable ability to plan and manage research.
2. Proven commitment and ability to keep abreast of contemporary developments in the field.

THE ROLE AND DEPARTMENT

The role is for a chemist to work on an exciting new project funded by The Leverhulme Trust on Advanced Coated Thermochemical Adsorption Materials in the Department of Chemistry at Durham University, under the direction of Dr Simon Beaumont.
A World Top 100 department, the Department of Chemistry at Durham is one of the very best in the UK, with an outstanding reputation for excellence in research, teaching and employability of our students. We are an active and vibrant department, with a strong cohort of early career academics and future leaders. We hold an Athena Swan Silver Award, recognising our commitment to gender equality. Our undergraduate programmes are ranked fifth in the Complete University Guide 2023. At postgraduate level, our students come from all over the world to carry out research.
Our research strategy is focussed around three interdisciplinary grand challenge themes: Chemistry for Health; Chemistry for Sustainability; and Chemistry for Change.
There is a strong culture of collaboration within the department and with other departments and institutes within the University, including the Biophysical Sciences Institute, the Durham Energy Institute and the Institute for Data Science.
For more information, please visit our Department pages at http://www.durham.ac.uk/chemistry

THE ROLE

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in nanoparticle chemistry, encompassing synthesis, characterization and working with our colleagues in engineering to perform application testing, is available from 1st June 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter, for a period of 24 months, to work in association with Dr Simon Beaumont. The goal of the project is to provide porous coatings for thermochemical sorption materials, an important net-zero enabling technology The project will specifically focus on breathable nanoscale coating methods for key sorption materials to overcome challenges in their re-use, reliability and energy density. It is a close collaboration with Dr Zhiwei Ma’s group in the Durham University Department of Engineering, who is the overall project’s principal investigator and will be modelling and testing materials we produce.
The successful applicant will be expected to lead the wet chemistry nanoparticle and nanoscale coating work (synthesis and characterization) in the Department of Chemistry, and collaborate effectively with engineers on the testing and applicability of these materials.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• 
  
  
  
• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.

• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To conduct research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.
• Promote and maintain a safe working environment by adopting best safety practices, participating in relevant training, acquiring specialist knowledge when necessary, and ensuring full compliance with rules and regulations.
  This post is fixed term for 24 months [the funding is available from 01/06/2025 for this fixed period only].
  The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.
  Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 01st June 2025.