The University of Edinburgh
Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Job Description
Grade UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum
School of Chemistry / College of Science and Engineering
Full Time: 35 hours per week
Fixed term: for 36 months
Where discovery never stops. Be part of something bigger.
A unique employer in a vibrant city
The University isn’t just any employer. We are part of a local community and a contributor to global thinking, progress and research. In Edinburgh, you are in one of the world’s most attractive cities with active arts and social sectors, while working in a University that has made significant contributions to society, medicine, physics and teaching for over four centuries. Our people have helped create the modern world and are working on more ground-breaking technologies and practices.
Make a meaningful impact
Here, you can continue to make a difference in everything around you. Take on new challenges, grow your career, be recognised for your contributions, and benefit from our commitment to your wellbeing. Be part of something bigger — where your work has real impact and your development matters. There are so many reasons to take your next step with us.
The University of Edinburgh is a world-class organisation. We look for the best in the field across all disciplines and provide a working environment where academics can develop their careers and passion for their chosen subject area. We offer the full range of academic roles and have a genuine focus on our students’ performance and wellbeing.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join the team led by Dr Alice Green in the School of Chemistry. The post holder will work on a new project led by Dr Green to build an advanced time-resolved Coulomb explosion imaging apparatus in the group’s laboratory. This instrument will be used to image, with high fidelity, ultrafast molecular motion that occurs during photochemical reactions of isolated gas-phase molecules. These exciting experimental capabilities will be used to advance our understanding of fundamental photochemical reactivity.
The candidate must have completed a PhD degree in Chemistry, Physics, or a related discipline. Experience with ultrafast spectroscopy and charged-particle detection/imaging is essential. This role will involve significant instrument design and practical work. Experience in instrument design and construction, particularly of high-vacuum apparatuses, is therefore highly beneficial.
People have always been at the heart of our work. Our people are at the centre of the University community and everything we do. We value colleagues with drive, determination and a passion for what they do. We are a place where everyone is welcome and offer a range of policies and benefits designed to support you in building the right meaningful flexibility that works for you.
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A career with us has a range of other benefits that can be tailored to your lifestyle:
- Professional development and subject matter expertise
- Opportunities To Develop New Skills And Broaden Your Experience
- Responsibility and autonomy
How To Apply
Please include the following documents in your application:
- CV (maximum 2 pages)
- Cover letter (maximum 2 pages)
- Two academic references that support your application
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
- A competitive salary.
- An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
- To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
- Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.
Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also a Stonewall Proud Employer, actively promoting LGBTQ+ equality.
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, and wish to particularly encourage applications from women, from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, who are underrepresented at this level.
Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab)
The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.
Key dates to note
- The closing date for applications is 2nd October 2026.
- Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browser’s local time zone.
- Interviews will be held in November 2026.
About Us
As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
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About The Team
The School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh has a long and distinguished history. The first Chemistry Professor was appointed to the Chair in 1713 and the Edinburgh University student-led Chemical Society is regarded as the oldest chemical society in the world. The School is run as a single academic unit with approximately 160 staff (made up of academic, postdoctoral researchers and professional services staff) and 800 students (undergraduate, taught postgraduate and research students). Our vision is for all students and staff to harness their curiosity, utilising outstanding and diverse talents to pursue knowledge that can be used to tackle global challenges and improve people’s lives. Sustainability, collaboration and inclusion are at the heart of all our school activities.
School of Chemistry researchers deliver advances in both core and interdisciplinary chemistry across five overlapping themes: Catalysis & Synthesis, the Chemistry-Biology Interface, Functional Materials, Structural Chemistry & Chemical Dynamics, and Energy, Environment & Sustainable Chemistry. Our research underpins solutions to major global challenges including health, climate change, and sustainability, and we collaborate extensively with other disciplines and industry partners to take our research towards use. Our 55 group leaders work with a similar number of postdoctoral researchers and approximately 155 research students to deliver £32M of current research grants across government, charity and industry funders, as well as a wide variety of public engagement activities.
Along with the University of St Andrews we formed EaStCHEM in 2004 to combine the research activities of two of Scotland’s leading schools of chemistry. Combined, we are the largest chemistry unit research in the UK. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), we were one of only three chemistry submissions to achieve a 100% “world-leading” score for our research environment. We hold a Silver Athena SWAN award, in recognition of excellence in science, engineering and technology employment in higher education relating to supporting women in Science. We are particularly proud of establishing the Christina Miller Fellowships, which have enabled seven talented postdoctoral researchers from under-represented groups to establish themselves as independent group leaders.
For further information about our school is available on the School of Chemistry Website (opens in a new browser tab).
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