As part of our collegiate community, you will demonstrate academic citizenship by cultivating generous, respectful, and supportive working relationships. You will positively influence how others succeed, reinforcing the collaborative spirit that defines our culture.

Role Summary

• Work within an industry-funded research project on the investigation of carbon/iron carbide materials for electromagnetic attenuation
• Synthesize and characterize a range of iron carbide/carbon materials using sol-gel or templating methods.
• Prepare regular reports for the industrial funder.

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Synthesize a range of iron carbide/carbon materials using sol-gel and templating methods.
• Characterize carbon/iron carbide materials using techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, porosimetry, and scanning electron microscopy.
• Prepare regular reports and presentations.
• Liaise regularly with industrial funders to optimise properties of produced materials.
• Contribute to the general running of the research lab, including working with other group members and other research groups to ensure a safe and efficient working environment.

Person Specification

• A PhD (or near to completion) in Chemistry or a closely related discipline (or thesis submitted prior to appointment).
• Demonstrable expertise in materials chemistry, including the design, synthesis, and characterisation of solid-state materials, ideally carbons or carbides.
• Demonstrable expertise in synthetic materials chemistry techniques, such as the use of high-temperature furnaces.
• Demonstrable expertise in the analysis of materials using techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and porosimetry.
• A strong academic publication record appropriate to career stage, evidenced by peer-reviewed publications or manuscripts in preparation.
• Ability to design, plan, and deliver high-quality research with a high degree of autonomy.
• Strong problem-solving skills, scientific creativity, and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present research to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Ability to work effectively both on their own and as part of a multidisciplinary research team.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet project deadlines.

Informal Enquiries

Contact Zoe Schnepp, email: z.schnepp@bham.ac.uk

Use of AI in Applications

We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter, and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.