Job Description
Job Description
Grade UE07: £41,064-£48,822 per annum
School of Engineering, College of Science & Engineering
Institute for Integrated Micro and Nano Systems (IMNS)
Full Time: 35 hours per week
Fixed Term: contract up to 24 months
The Opportunity
We are looking for an experienced Research Associate in Thin Film Transistor Devices. The position will be based at the King’s Buildings Campus and will commence as soon as possible.
Our ambition is to push the frontiers of electronics through emerging nanotechnologies, disrupting current ways of thinking by innovating advanced energy-efficient Hardware solutions for AI and the new age of electronics. To realise this vision, we are seeking exceptional candidates to join our team, interested in devoting their passion for addressing some of the challenges we have identified.
This post will involve the development of electronic devices based on thin film technologies for novel memory-in-computing and emerging memory applications. These include designing device architectures and material stacks with standard cleanroom processes (lithography, magnetron sputtering, ALD, etc), analytical and morphological characterisation of developed films (such as XPS, SEM and AFM) as well as electrical characterisation of fabricated devices.
This position is affiliated with the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies held by Regius Chair of Engineering Prof Prodromakis, Director of the Centre for Electronics Frontiers. The appointee will support the delivery of the vision of this 10-year programme that aspires to develop AI Hardware solutions for Lifelong Learning applications.
Your Skills And Attributes For Success
* A PhD in Electronics, Physics, Materials Science or similar discipline, with a focus in semiconductor devices and/or thin films
* Proven track record of research or industrial experience in fabrication and testing of TFTs and thin film devices as well as materials involved in thin film fabrication.
* Demonstrated experience with cleanroom fabrication processes. Key processes include lithography, magnetron sputtering and ALD. The candidate is expected to be able to work independently in a cleanroom environment.
* Knowledge of electrical characterisation techniques, mostly on the DC domain including common testing procedures for memories, transistors and similar devices.
* Experience with physical layout tooling.
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Application Information
Please ensure you include the following documents in your application:
* CV
* Cover letter
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
* A competitive salary
* An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
* To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
* Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefits.
Championing equality, diversity and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab).
The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 16th January 2026.
Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.
Interviews dates to be confirmed.
About Us
As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
About The Team
Engineering has been taught at Edinburgh in one form or another since 1673. In 2002, the present School of Engineering was formed from the previously existing departments of Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronics and Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Since then, the School has grown from strength to strength, growing rapidly in the last 5 years, now having the largest number of students among the seven Schools in the College of Science and Engineering, offering undergraduate degree programmes across all disciplines and taught Masters courses in niche areas. All of the undergraduate degree programmes are accredited by the relevant professional institutions.
The School of Engineering addresses diverse complex challenges across the entire field of engineering, at the micro- and macro/global scales. At the microscopic scale, its research supports the design and deployment of novel nanotechnology and devices for biological monitoring and medical diagnosis; at the macro/global scale, it optimises the security and sustainability of the built environment and develops engineering solutions to climate change issues. In REF 2021 the joint submission from the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University to General Engineering was ranked 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for quality and breadth of research. The ranking cited is based upon the breadth and quality of research which apply standard formula (as used by the Times Higher Education) to the REF 2021 results.
The School has a strong track record in producing more than 50 technology spin-outs and developing industry links that enable our graduates to build career-long relationships. Current research income in the School was c.£22.0M in 2020/21.
We aim to ensure that our culture and systems support flexible and family-friendly working and recognise and value diversity across all our staff and students. The School has an active programme offering support and professional development for all staff; providing mentoring, training, and networking opportunities.
The School of Engineering holds a bronze Athena SWAN award, in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education & research.
Further information, including details of undergraduate & postgraduate taught programmes: www.eng.ed.ac.uk