Position Details
School of Chemistry
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822
Grade: 7
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to April 2027
Closing date: 21st September 2025
Background
As Research Fellow, you will apply state-of-the-art materials characterisation to address an urgent industry challenge: the discovery and optimisation of new mechanically-robust granular ion-exchange materials for the removal of radioactive strontium and caesium ions form aqueous effluent nuclear waste. You will work as part of an interdisciplinary team within the group of Dr Phoebe Allan at the University of Birmingham (UoB), and in collaboration with scientists from the School of Metallurgy and Materials at UoB, Diamond Light Source, the National Nuclear Laboratory, Sellafield Ltd and the Henry Royce Institute. You will workacross the boundaries of chemistry and materials science to deliver new materials and knowledge, whilst developing a wide-range of state-of-the-art scientific skills directly applicable to career in academia or industry.
Role Summary
The role involves:
* Working within the project team for the EPSRC project “Composite zeolite ion-exchangers for nuclear waste remediation.”
* Performing experimental materials chemistry research to probe the mechanical properties and structure of zeolite ion-exchange materials using mechanical testing, x-ray diffraction and computed tomography and developing structure-property relationships.
* Working across the discipline boundaries of materials science, chemistry and synchrotron science with the support of the wider project team to develop new, optimised materials.
Main Duties
You will contribute to the objectives of the EPSRC project by:
* Collecting, analysing and critically interpretating data sets from multiple techniques to characterise granular zeolite ion-exchange materials.
* Designing and developing new in situ synchrotron experiments in collaboration with central facility scientists, including the drafting of applications for peer-reviewed beamtime.
* Facilitating the exchange of ideas and project development through regularly reporting results to the project team, including industry collaborators.
* Disseminating research outputs by preparing high-quality publications and delivering research seminars and conference presentations.
* Supervising students on research-related work and providing guidance to PhD students working alongside the project team.
* Undertaking administration arising from the research project and help anticipate and resolve problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives.
* Contributing to School research-related activities and research-related administration in the group of Dr Phoebe Allan.
* Contributing to Outreach activities related to the research.
* Collaborating with academic and industrial partners.
* Supporting the day-to-day running of the Allan research group including contributing to an inclusive working culture.
Person Specification
Essential criteria
* A first degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics or related subject, and a PhD (or close to completion) in Materials Science, Chemistry or a related discipline.
* A proven track record in characterisation of the structure or mechanical properties of solid-state materials.
* Experience with the analysis of either mechanical testing data (e.g. compression tests, nanoindentation) ordata from x-ray diffraction and computed tomography experiments, including Rietveld refinement.
* A proven ability to communicate complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
* A willingness to gain skills (with appropriate training) in new techniques to complement existing expertise.
* A demonstrable ability to contribute to the planning and organising of research, and a clear willingness to work as part of an interdisciplinary research team.
Desirable Criteria
* Experience with the analysis of either mechanical testing data (e.g. compression tests, nanoindentation) and data from x-ray diffraction and computed tomography experiments, including Rietveld refinement.
* A track record of high-quality research outputs and a demonstrable commitment to research excellence.
* Experience in the development and application of in situ synchrotron or neutron experiments, particularly those using mechanical property testing.
* Experience in the synthesis and modification of solid-state materials via hydrothermal techniques.
* Experience of characterising ion-exchange properties of solid-state materials.
* Proven ability in successfully securing access to central facilities and leading central facilities beam time experiments.
* Experience of working in an interdisciplinary team.
* Experience with supervising and mentoring more junior researchers.
Beneficial Criteria
* Experience in coding (e.g.Python, C, Fortran) and image processing.
* Previous postdoctoral experience.
Informal enquiries to Phoebe Allan, email: p.allan@bham.ac.uk
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