Post-doctoral Research Assistant

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Salary: £39,375 to £43,313 per annum (dependent on skills and experience).
Hours: Full time (37 hours per week)
Contract Type: Fixed Term (7 months).
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire

Job Description

Come and do the kind of science that made you want to become a scientist. Explore the unknown and get to grips with the biggest challenges in Big Science. And, alongside world class engineers, technicians and technologists, use everything you've learnt to find real answers that shape society and improve lives.

Put simply, discover the kind of impact you can make when you work with some of the best facilities and brightest scientists in the world.

STFC are advertising for a post-doctoral research assistant based at the ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source to work on a Government Office of Technology Transfer project (Knowledge Asset Grant Fund) developing STFC's proprietary ammonia decomposition catalysts.

You will be part of the ISIS Energy Materials group and entails developing the ammonia decomposition catalysts invented at STFC into a demonstrator system which will: (i) showcase the development of straightforward catalyst coating techniques to various substrate architectures; (ii) operate at a scale of around 1 kW power. The objective of the project is to develop STFC's intellectual property so it is licensable to industry. The role is full-time, however requests for flexible working will be considered.

About STFC and ISIS: The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe's largest science research organisations. We're trusted to support, enable and undertake pioneering projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we're driving ground-breaking advances in science and technology/engineering. STFC's ISIS Facility is a leading centre for research in the physical and life sciences. The Facility performs cutting edge research into the structure and properties of materials at an atomic and molecular level.

Job Responsibilities

• Regular laboratory-based chemistry work in synthesis and characterisation of ammonia decomposition catalysts;
• Running ammonia decomposition experiments to characterise catalyst performance;
• Design and implementation of appropriate strategies for coating the catalyst (in collaboration with our partners at University of Birmingham);
• Data analysis (including bespoke programming) to elucidate the catalyst and demonstrator performance;
• Regular meetings with project partners;
• Writing up results in report-based format.

Person Specification

The below will be reviewed at shortlisting and Interview:

Essential:

• PhD in chemistry or related discipline (or where thesis has been recently submitted for a PhD). (S)
• Experience working with gaseous ammonia in conjunction with solid-state materials (e.g. catalysts, sorbents etc.).(S&I)
• Knowledge and experience of the appropriate safety measures for ammonia and hydrogen gases.(S&I)
• Experience using characterisation techniques for solid-state materials, particularly powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and thermal analysis. (S&I)
• Quality of cover letter in communicating candidate's fulfilment of the selection criteria.(S)

Desirable:

• Experience of using Python to analyse catalyst experimental data (S&I)
• Experience using gas lines to conduct catalytic ammonia experiments with mass spectrometry analysis of products.(S&I)
• Experience of ammonia decomposition experiments/demonstrators at a scale of kW or greater.(S&I)

Employee Benefits:

STFC offers our staff a wide range of excellent non-paying employee benefits, including but not limited to:

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
  Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

As one of Europe's largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We're proud of the impact we make. And we're committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You'll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you'll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you'll discover just what a difference you can make when you're equipped and inspired to excel.

We're a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don't, ask questions that others won't, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it's at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It's very often ground-breaking. And it's endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.

For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/

You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org .

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce' .

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

Additional Information

• Organisation: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) - ISIS
• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
• External Closing Date: Oct 3, 2024
• Minimum Salary: Pound Sterling (GBP) 39,375
• Hours: Full-time