13392 - Postdoctoral Research Associate in Kinetics and Mechanism

University of Edinburgh; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in the UK is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in the School of Chemistry. The successful candidate will engage in experimental and computational research on organoboron species, collaborate with teams from other universities, and supervise junior researchers. A strong background in spectroscopy, kinetics, and mathematical modeling is essential. This fixed-term position offers a salary between £41,064 and £48,822 per annum.

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in multiple spectroscopic techniques.
• Strong analytical skills in chemical kinetics.
• Ability to manage laboratory resources effectively.

Responsibilities

• Perform laboratory and computer‑based research into organoboron species.
• Collaborate extensively with synthetic and computational collaborators.
• Supervise less experienced researchers in the laboratory.

Skills

Solution‑phase reaction monitoring

Conduction and analysis of UV‑Vis and NMR titration isotherms

High field NMR analysis

Mathematical modelling of chemical processes

Experience in kinetics analysis of organoboronic compounds

Job description

Grade UE07: £41,064 to £48,822 per annum, pro‑rata if part time

College of Science and Engineering / School of Chemistry

Full‑time: 35 hours per week

Fixed term: 20 months

The School of Chemistry are looking for a PDRA starting from September 1st 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter) for 20 months.

The Opportunity

The PDRA will be supervised by Prof. Guy Lloyd-Jones (GCLJ) and is based in the School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh (UoE). The successful applicant will join a well‑established team focused on experimental mechanistic analysis at the UoE, and work in close collaboration with two other teams, one focused on developing boron‑based medicinal chemistry at the University of St Andrews (UoStA) and the other focused on computational mechanistic analysis at the University of Manchester (UoM).

This position is part of a much larger endeavour that overall involves 10 PDRA, 9 PhD students, 9 academic groups, and 5 industrial groups. It is funded by an EPSRC Programme Grant titled "Boron: Beyond the Reagent", that was awarded to Professors Guy Lloyd‑Jones FRS (PI), Michael Ingleson, Stephen Thomas, and Neil McKeown at UoE; to Professors Allan Watson (ABJW. co‑PI), Andrew Smith, Eli Zysman‑Colman, and Russell Morris FRS at the UoStA) and Dr Andrew Leach (AGL) at UoM.

The successful applicant will perform a laboratory and computer‑based programme of research into the speciation and stability of organoboron species in biologically relevant media. They will interact extensively with both computational and synthetic collaborators to enable the productive development of the EPSRC "Boron: Beyond the Reagent" Programme Grant. They will also contribute intellectually to the life of the GCLJ research group, effectively manage laboratory resources and equipment, supervise less experienced researchers and contribute to the dissemination and publication of the research, both within and outwith the project.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• Solution‑phase reaction monitoring (in situ and ex situ) by multiple spectroscopic techniques and application of stopped‑flow methods.
• Conduction and analysis of UV‑Vis and NMR titration isotherms.
• High field NMR analysis and the editing and application of pulse sequences.
• Mathematical modelling of experimental and predicted temporal concentrations for complex chemical processes, using both numerical methods and via derivation of steady‑state rate equations.
• Hands‑on experience in the analysis of the kinetics of interconversion of organoboronic acids, organoboronic esters, and boroxines.