About The Role
For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Mark Senn at [Confidential Information].
High-pressure science helps us understand the physical interactions between atoms and molecules in the world around us, giving us a window into solid-state structures that exist deep within our own planet or within those in our solar system and beyond. It acts as a powerful tool for probing interaction energies in crystal structures and using these to understand why, and how, particularly dense phases exist. In order to compress materials uniformly, high-pressure crystallography experiments require the inclusion of a pressure-transmitting medium (PTM). This is a somewhat sparse library of compounds that each place specific limitations on the experiment performed.
You will work as part of a Leverhulme Trust-funded team, joint between the University of Warwick and the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, on an ambitious project that will discover novel PTMs enabling such interdisciplinary frontier research across chemistry, material science, physics, geology, and planetary science.
Working closely with theoreticians in the Sosso group at University of Warwick, you will experimentally evaluate computationally-informed PTMs and seek to gain an understanding of their performance at an atomic level. This project aims to discover a variety of new PTMs that can be used over a wide range of pressure regimes in crystallographic experiments in combination with different functional materials and molecular crystals.
Leveraging these developments and the state-of-the-art facilities available at the University of Warwick and the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, in collaboration with Dr Nick Funnell, you will lead an innovative programme of high-pressure research in the area of functional materials/molecules.
You will work closely with a team of 5 researchers (three PIs, 2 PDRFs and 1 PhD student) to deliver on the broader vision of the project. On a day-to-day basis you will be imbedded within the Senn group in the Chemistry department at the University of Warwick where you will work together with 2 other PDRFs and 4 PhD students. You will undertake regular visits to the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source in Oxfordshire, where you will make use of complementary analytical equipment to assist the pressure measurements.
You will also work closely with the second experimental supervisor, Dr Nick Funnell, who is based at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. The ISIS Neutron and Muon Source is a world-leading centre for research in the physical and life sciences, based at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire. It is owned and operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, which forms a part of UK Research and Innovation. As a central facility, ISIS has a strong scientific user programme with extensive national and international links, supporting more than 2000 scientists. Within ISIS, the Crystallography Group operates seven neutron diffraction instruments performing measurements covering a range of academic and industrial research.
About You
We are seeking a candidate with a proven track record in high pressure crystallography, preferably with experience of working with diamond anvil cells. The candidate should be able to work as part of an interdisciplinary team to deliver the common objectives of the Leverhulme Trust funded project. In collaboration with the supervisor, the candidate should be able to work independently to develop a programme of high-pressure research lying at the intersection of their skill set and those of the supervisory team.
The ideal candidate will be happy to contribute to the running of the research group via enabling PhD students and other PDRFs to conduct high pressure research, and by helping maintain and expand the group's high-pressure laboratory. The ideal candidate should be open to taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by the group and supervisory team including exposure to a wide range of a central facilities experiments and broad network of collaborators through extended research visits and international conference attendance.
Please note that due to the funding rules stipulated by the Leverhulme Trust, you will only be able to take up this position if you have submitted your PhD prior to the start date.
If you have submitted, but not yet been awarded your PhD, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant on level 5 of the University grade structure (
32,982). Upon successful award of your PhD and evidence of this fact, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of the level 6 of the University grade structure (33,966).
About The Department
The Department of Chemistry at Warwick is a thriving community of students, academics, researchers, and support staff.
Our fundamental research pushes boundaries in all major fields of Chemistry. Through collaborations with the wider science community and industry, our applied work aims to tackle huge global issues from antimicrobial resistance, to solar energy harvesting, and sustainable materials.
We provide an inclusive, vibrant and friendly environment where our students have dedicated support to explore their passion for chemistry.
Through the Research Technology Platform in X-ray diffraction (https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/physics/research/condensedmatt/x-ray/), the research group has access to state-of-art diffractometers including a new Rigaku Synergy S that is optimised for high pressure diffraction with our inhouse Diamond Anvil Cells, and a Rigaku-Jeol XTALAB SYNERGY-ED for electron diffraction on nanocrystallites.
Athena SWAN Silver Award
We are committed to supporting staff to achieve their potential. Both the Department of Chemistry and the University of Warwick hold Athena SWAN silver awards, a national initiative that recognises the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression, and success for all in academia. We provide a welcoming and inclusive working and learning environment, recognising that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010. We are supportive of staff with caring responsibilities.
About The University
Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We're one of the world's top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent**.
You'll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.
- QS World University Rankings 2024
- Research Excellence Framework 2021
To find out more about us visit our website.
How to Apply
CLOSING DATE: Tuesday 23 July 2024 at 11.45pm
To apply, please click Apply below and submit an application form by the closing date. Please plan for any potential delays as
you will not be able to submit an application past this deadline (even if you opened the form at, say, 11.30pm).
Please attach a CV and cover letter.
- Your CV should include your most recent employment experience, any other relevant experience, and education history.
- Your cover letter must detail how you meet each of the essential criteria found in the Job Description document below (desirable criteria too, where possible).
Please see below a guide on writing a cover letter. We
highly recommend using individual criteria as headers and giving examples below, though you are free to format the letter as you wish.
To streamline our hiring processes, we can only accept applications via our official website, warwick-careers.tal.net.
Interview Date: 22, 23 August 2024
Start Date: TBC
What we Offer
We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.
We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working, for more information click here.
We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer.
If you are considering relocating to the UK, read our Relocation Guide to find out more about what Warwick has to offer and what might be involved in the process.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Warwick is committedto building an organisation ofmutual respectanddignity, promoting awelcoming, diverse, and inclusive workingand learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to berecognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.
We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpageshere.
The University currently holds aRace Equality Charter Bronze Award,Athena Swan Sliver Awardand aDisability Smart Bronze Award.The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of theEUTOPIA European University Alliance.
Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
The University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against anyone who makes a Disclosure relating to a conviction or other information revealed. More information is available on the University's Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.
Job Description
JD - Research Fellow (109158).pdf 683KB Opens in a new window
Additional Document
Cover Letter Guide.pdf 162KB Opens in a new window
Right to Work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.
