Job number
ENG03671
Faculties
Faculty of Engineering
Departments
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Salary or Salary range
£49,017 - £57,472 per annum
Location/campus
South Kensington Campus - On site only
Contract type work pattern
Full time - Fixed term
Posting End Date
8 Oct 2025
About the role
Applications are encouraged for a Research Associate in advanced alloy characterisation to work on the UKRI/EPSRC New Investigator Award project "Hydrogen Embrittlement Mitigation by Engineering Grain Boundary Composition" (HEnGB). The project, led by Dr Livia Cupertino-Malheiros, aims at engineering the composition of grain boundaries to develop a new class of alloys that are less weakened when exposed to hydrogen.
You will have access to state-of-the-art experimental facilities (e.g., infrastructure-materials, cryomicroscopy, royce-imperial). The initial term will be one year, with the potential to extend the appointment for up to 3 years (the project duration).
You will be integrated in the Metals Degradation and Sustainability research group and expected to maximise the collaborative opportunities associated with this project. Specifically, the work will be conducted in close collaboration with Imperial's Materials and Mechanical Engineering Departments and with the University of Oxford.
What you would be doing
You will be responsible for designing and manufacturing alloy candidates, characterising their grain structure (nature, orientation and composition) and testing their susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. You will be expected to improve experimental protocols to characterise the co-segregation of deuterium and other elements to grain boundaries using cryogenic APT analyses and contribute for the development of new micromechanical testing devices for hydrogen embrittlement testing. You will also take part in collaborative numerical modelling work, participate in activities of the research group, submit publications to reputed journals and liaise with academic collaborators and sponsors.
What we are looking for
You must have obtained or be close to obtaining a PhD in Materials Science, Engineering, or other closely related field. Also, you should have experience in at least one of the following:
* Microscopy, particularly EBSD, FIB, TKD and APT
* Alloy design, particularly grain boundary engineering
* Hydrogen embrittlement
* Micromechanical testing
What we can offer you
* The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity
* Access and training to state-of-the-art experimental facilities
* The opportunity to contribute to the supervision of PhD and MSc Theses
* Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers
* Sector-leading salary and remuneration package
* Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing
Further information
This is a full-time post. This role is for a fixed-term contract for 12 months, with the potential to be extended.
The starting date is relatively flexible, with a preference for the period between December 2025 and February 2026.
Full information on the post is available in the job description. Please make sure to upload a CV and a cover letter to your application.
If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Dr Livia Cupertino-Malheiros – l.cupertino-
Any queries regarding the application process should be directed to Briony Webb at
Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds and disabilities. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the interview process and to perform crucial job functions, as well as other support including staff networks. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Available documents
Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.
We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at We're here to help.
About Imperial
Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.
Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.
As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.
This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.
Our Culture
We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.
Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.