Advert
Research Associate in Physical Chemistry
Cardiff School of Chemistry
Cardiff University
We seek to recruit an enthusiastic, highly motivated scientist with proven intellectual and technical abilities to work on a physical chemistry project. The 6-month project, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, involves a collaboration between Dr Richards and Prof. Pope (School of Chemistry, Cardiff University) and Dr Beames (School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham). The appointed candidate will be based at Cardiff University for the duration of the post.
The overall focus of the programme is to use synthetic inorganic chemistry to develop a library of coordination complexes aimed at their potential utility in upconversion applications.
Applicants must hold a postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) or relevant industrial experience in Solution phase inorganic photochemistry (synthesis).
Further Information Is Available At The Following Group Webpages:
Dr Emma Richards https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/38469-richards-emma
Prof Simon Pope http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/38559-pope-simon
Dr Joseph Beames https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/chemistry/beames-joseph.aspx
(or https://jmbeames.com/ )
For informal enquiries about the role and the Cardiff School of Chemistry, please contact Dr Emma Richards: email richardse10@cardiff.ac.uk ; Tel: +44(0)29 20 87 4029
For further details about working at Cardiff University, please contact: Ms Caroline Pasmore ( Chemy-HR@cardiff.ac.uk )
This position is full time (35 hours per week) and is available from 1st July 2025 for 6 months..
Salary: £40,497 - £45,413 per annum (Grade 6). We do not anticipate that an appointment be made above £40,497 per annum (Grade 6.32).
Important note: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure that the evidence you are providing corresponds with the numbered criteria outlined below. Your application will be considered based on the information you provide under each element.
When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you name it with the vacancy reference number, e.g. Supporting Statement for 20247BR
Date advert posted: Monday, 02 June 2025
Closing date: Monday, 30 June 2025
This post has previously been advertised to employees of Cardiff University only. We now invite external applications.
The School of Chemistry holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award that recognises good employment practice and a commitment to develop the careers of women working in science. Cardiff University is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.
For this vacancy we actively encourage women to apply.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Job Description
Main function
To conduct research within synthetic inorganic chemistry, aimed at the development of materials for upconversion applications (to later be studied by various time-resolved spectroscopies). An interest in the photophysics and applications of luminescent molecules are therefore highly desirable. The candidate will also be expected to contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University, carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Research
* To conduct research within synthetic inorganic chemistry, aimed at the development of materials for upconversion applications. Production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences, and the supervision of postgraduate research students.
* To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals.
* To attend and or present at conferences/seminars at a local and national level as required.
* To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
* To prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate.
* To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field.
* To participate in School research activities.
* To supervise and train PhD and final year undergraduate project students on a day-to-day basis;
*. To contribute to the effective operation of the Richard’s research group.
* To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects.
Other
* To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to raise awareness of the School’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.
* To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
* To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world.
* Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.
Person Specification
Person Specification
IMPORTANT NOTE TO CANDIDATES: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing and we only invite candidates to interview who clearly evidence that they meet (or partially meet) each of the essential criteria. During the application process you will be asked to attach a supporting statement. This statement must outline how you meet the criteria below and we recommended formatting this by using each criteria as a sub-heading and providing your relevant experience/evidence below each sub-heading. It is crucial that you save your supporting statement with the vacancy number (eg. 1234BR) in the filename as failure to do so may result in it being omitted from your application.
Essential Criteria
Qualifications And Education
* Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion/submission) in heterogeneous catalysis (chemistry or chemical engineering background) or relevant industrial experience.
Knowledge, Skills And Experience
* An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within the following research fields:
i. Synthetic chemistry.
ii. Spectroscopic methods and characterisation methods.
* Knowledge of current status of research in any/all of the following research fields
i. Luminescent coordination complexes.
ii. Time--resolved spectroscopies.
iii. Photophysics.
iv. Upconversion applications.
* Proven ability to publish in international journals and present at national/international conferences.
* Proven ability to be successful in competitive research funding or knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies.
Communication and Team Working
* Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication.
* Ability to supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals.
Other
* Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work.
* Proven ability to work without close supervision.
Desirable Criteria
* Evidence of collaborations with industry.
* Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community.
* Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the School.
Additional Information
Additional Information
Mechanistic insights into photon upconversion using TR-EPR
Light upconversion is a process by which multiple low energy photons are converted to make higher energy photons e.g. turning red light into green. Light upconversion is a powerful phenomenon with exciting photonic applications that range from solar cell technologies, to photocatalysis, to cancer therapy. Triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) is a variant of upconversion that relies on multiple energy transfer processes from a light harvesting complex (donor) to an organic emitter (acceptor), which emits at wavelengths shorter than those harvested by the donor molecule. We have recently developed a library of iridium-based donor molecules for TTA-UC systems with world-leading upconversion efficiencies and overall energy transfer rates.
The successful candidate will employ synthetic inorganic chemistry to develop a library of iridium-based donor molecules for TTA-UC systems with world-leading upconversion efficiencies and overall energy transfer rates, building upon existing knowledge within our research groups. This library of complexes will subsequently be fully characterised by a range of advanced spectroscopic, including Time-Resolved Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy (TR-EPR) and transient absorption/emission techniques, supported by computational tools to fully interrogate the excited state properties of photon upconverting systems. These combined results will deliver ground-breaking new mechanistic insights into upconversion optimization through structure reactivity relationships, leading to an acceleration in the delivery of a range of novel, highly efficient and tuneable photoactive materials for use in light harvesting processes and photoredox catalysis.
You will contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University, carrying out research leading to the publication of work in high-quality journals. You will pursue excellence in research and inspire others to do the same.
Salary Range Min.
40,497
Salary Range Max.
45,413
Job Category
Academic - Research
Grade
Grade 6 #J-18808-Ljbffr