About us
Engineering:
Recently re-founded, the Department of Engineering is rapidly expanding into a world-class research and teaching department. Research currently focuses on robotics, telecommunications and biomedical engineering, but we are looking to establish new research themes.
We offer both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, with a distinctive approach, combining both traditional teaching methods with modern, project-based learning, catering for the needs of our students and the industries in which they will work.
As a new department we have invested in new laboratories and maker space at the centre of the Strand campus in the heart of central London.
For more information:
The Faculty:
The Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES) comprises Chemistry, Engineering, Informatics, Mathematics, and Physics - all departments highly rated in research activities and a wide-ranging portfolio of education programmes.
Celebrating diversity and supporting staff is important to us and we offer a range of provision including flexible working, caring support (including a Parenting and Carers Fund and the Carer's Career Development Fund), training, and a variety of diversity and inclusion networks. Staff can apply for flexible working to help them balance the demands of their professional and personal commitments and we offer comprehensive leave policies for parental, adoption, surrogacy, dependant and shared leave.
The university is making investment in NMES and both student and staff numbers are growing. Our staff come from over 45 countries and 56% of our students are from outside the UK. Principally located on the Strand Campus in the heart of central London, further details available at .
About the role
This position is set within a growing research initiative supported by the prestigious UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, focusing on the development of sustainable aluminium-ion batteries. The aim is to develop innovative, high-performance cathode materials for non-aqueous aluminium-ion batteries and to explore their underlying reaction mechanisms.
We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher passionate about materials science and its application to energy storage devices. The focus of the position is to gain a fundamental understanding of the structure-properties-performance relationship of the developed materials using ex-situ and in-situ characterisation methods of the bulk and the electrode-electrolyte interfaces. The work will further include the synthesis of inorganic materials and their electrochemical characterisation in batteries.
Synthesis methods will include mainly solid-state and solvothermal syntheses. Standard characterisation techniques will include X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemical analysis.
You will be part of a dynamic, diverse, and growing research team with a strong focus on creating a positive and collegial group culture. We maintain strong partnerships with researchers both in the UK and internationally, and we are looking for a candidate who is excited about working in a team and willing to travel for collaborative research visits.
We place a strong focus on career development, offering opportunities for conference participation and skills development. You will also have the opportunity to mentor PhD, MSc, and undergraduate students working in the group.
This is a full time (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 24 months.
Research staff at King's are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.
About you
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:
Essential criteria
1. PhD (awarded or near completion) in Materials Science or Chemistry or equivalent research experience in an academic or commercial setting
2. Strong background and experience in the synthesis of inorganic materials via solvothermal synthesis and solid-state synthesis
3. Significant experience in in-operando and ex-situ characterisation methods including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, ideally in the context of batteries but not required
4. Strong experience in materials characterisation using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy
5. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, manage deadlines, and organise work effectively
6. Proficiency in English with good communication skills (oral and written), including the ability to write research reports and academic papers
Desirable criteria
1. Experience in battery cell assembly, electrochemical characterisation, and related data analysis
2. Computational chemistry to calculate electronic structures
* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.
Downloading a copy of our Job Description
Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.
Further Information
We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.
We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.
As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.
We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.
To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ' How we Recruit ' pages.
Interviews are due to be held mid-December