University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Experimental Materials Engineering (Mechanical testing of metals, hydrogen embrittlement)
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Grade 7: £39,424 - £47,779 per annum (Inclusive of Oxford University weighting)
We are seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate in Experimental Materials Engineering (Mechanical testing of metals, hydrogen embrittlement) to join Prof. Emilio Martinez-Paneda’s research group (the Mechanics of Materials Lab) at the Department of Engineering Science (central Oxford).
This fixed-term post, initially offered for one year but with the possibility of extension, is funded by the ERC Starting Grant project ResistHfracture.
You will conduct experiments to characterise the susceptibility of metals to hydrogen embrittlement, a phenomenon that is arguably the biggest threat to the deployment of a hydrogen energy infrastructure and the cause of numerous structural integrity problems in the transport, defence, marine and construction sectors.
You will be responsible for conducting a wide variety of experimental tasks, including (but not limited to) mechanical testing (including fracture and fatigue), advanced materials characterisation (including SEM and EBSD), hydrogen charging, permeation and desorption tests. There are opportunities to access synchrotron facilities, so expertise/interest in this domain is also valuable.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
You will also be expected to take part in collaborative work, participate in the activities of the research group, submit publications to reputable journals, and liaise with academic collaborators and sponsors. You will have access to cutting-edge facilities and be part of an ambitious ERC project aiming at bringing a paradigm shift to the discipline.
Requirements
You must have obtained or be close to obtaining a PhD in engineering, materials science, physics, chemistry, or other closely-related disciplines. Also, you should have experience in at least one of the following:
- Mechanical testing
- Environmentally assisted fracture testing
- Temperature-programmed hydrogen desorption
- Materials characterisation
- Hydrogen permeation
- Coupled deformation-diffusion modelling
For those candidates about to finish their PhD degrees, a lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6: £35,681- £41,636 p.a.) with a commensurate reduction in responsibilities (and amendment in job title to Research Assistant) until the PhD is awarded.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Application Information
Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof. Emilio Martinez-Paneda (email: emilio.martinez-paneda@eng.ox.ac.uk)
For more information about working at the Department, see www.eng.ox.ac.uk/about/work-with-us/
Only online applications received before midday on the 10th September 2026 can be considered. You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, including a brief statement of research interests (describing how past experience and future plans fit with the advertised position), CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.
Equality and Diversity
The Department holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to promoting women in Science, Engineering and Technology.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location