RA: Automated Gel Formulation & ML for Antimicrobial Gels

Economics Network; Loughborough; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits package

Hybrid working options

Job summary

Loughborough University seeks a researcher to advance gel formulation science within an EU-funded international project. The role combines experimental and computational work across interdisciplinary teams, focusing on automated screening, rheology, and data-driven discovery.

You may be at the final stages of your PhD or recently awarded, with strengths in either experimental or computational approaches, and a desire to grow in the other area.

Qualifications

• PhD (or near completion) in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, soft matter physics, computational chemistry, or a related discipline.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory automation or high-throughput experimentation, and/or strong skills in computational modelling or machine learning (Python desirable).
• Background in formulation, soft materials, ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents or gels is a plus; familiarity with rheology or thermal analysis.
• Ability to work independently, cross-disciplinary thinking, and balance in-lab experimentation with computation.
• Strong communication and collaboration in an international team.

Responsibilities

• Adapting formulation methods for on-platform gelation and rapid functional assessment using automated screening.
• Preparing and characterising gels, including rheology, viscometry and thermal analysis, to build a high-quality experimental property database.
• Integrating experimental and computational data to build predictive models and identify promising new formulations.
• Using machine learning to optimise gels across a range of functional parameters.
• Working with partners across the globe to align results with project needs and present findings.

Skills

Lab automation

High-throughput screening

Computational modelling

Machine learning

Education

PhD in Chemistry/Materials Science/Chemical Engineering/Soft Matter

Tools

Python

Job description

Loughborough University seeks a researcher to advance gel formulation science within an EU-funded international project. The role combines experimental and computational work across interdisciplinary teams, focusing on automated screening, rheology, and data-driven discovery.

You may be at the final stages of your PhD or recently awarded, with strengths in either experimental or computational approaches, and a desire to grow in the other area.