Research Fellow - School of Chemistry - 108046 - Grade 7
University of Birmingham · United Kingdom
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 for one year, with the possibility of extension until July 2029
Closing date: 3rd November 2026
UK and International Travel may be required for this role
Background
This job is part of an Advanced Research + Invention Agency-funded project. "Hephaisteion: Direct Lithium Extraction using inorganic membranes made by proteins" is part of ARIA's Universal Fabricators programme. We aim to use proteins to programme the manufacture of inorganic membranes with precisely controlled pores. The ambition is to translate molecular design into scalable materials manufacturing.
Based in the School of Chemistry, you will work with Dr Dominik Kubicki and Birmingham's Facility for Electron Microscopy, alongside protein scientists, materials chemists and engineers. You will develop the microscopy and image-analysis workflows that reveal how protein assembly and the microstructure of the materials that they fabricate. Your evidence will guide which materials the team redesigns, advances and scales up.
The work centres on scanning electron microscopy (SEM), reproducible sample preparation and quantitative analysis of membrane coverage, morphology, thickness and defects. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) expertise is highly desirable. You will organise imaging around project priorities, troubleshoot artefacts and maintain traceable links between samples, images and analyses.
This is an opportunity to help establish a new way of making functional materials, contribute to research publications and engage with ARIA workshops and the wider Creator community. Training and collaboration will support your development across microscopy, biological self-assembly and materials manufacturing.
Role Summary
- Work within specified research project
- Operate within area of specialism
- Analyse and interpret research findings and results
- Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar
Main Duties
The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.
- Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
- Analyse and interpret microscopy data to quantify coverage, morphology, thickness and defects, and relate these to assembly and mineralisation conditions
- Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
- Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
- Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
- Contribute to developing reproducible microscopy and quantitative image-analysis methods, controlling preparation and imaging artefacts
- Undertake management/administration arising from research
- Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
- Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
- Collect research data through SEM and sample preparation, with supported TEM of selected samples; maintain traceable sample metadata, images and analyses
- Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
- Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
- Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
- Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
Person Specification
- First degree in materials science, physics, chemistry, biological sciences or a related discipline and a PhD (or close to completion) relevant to microscopy, or equivalent research qualifications
- High level analytical capability, including quantitative analysis and interpretation of microscopy images
- Ability to communicate complex information clearly
- Practical SEM and sample-preparation experience, fluency in image-analysis methods and ability to develop new workflows; TEM experience is highly desirable, with training and specialist support available
- Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
- Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
- Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
- Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly
Informal enquiries to Dominik Kubicki, email: d.j.kubicki@bham.ac.uk
Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.
We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.
Based in the School of Chemistry, you will work with Dr Dominik Kubicki and Birmingham's Facility for Electron Microscopy, alongside protein scientists, materials chemists and engineers. You will develop the microscopy and image-analysis workflows that reveal how protein assembly and the microstructure of the materials that they fabricate. Your evidence will guide which materials the team redesigns, advances and scales up.