Research Assistant

University of Plymouth; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Pension scheme

Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Development opportunities

Flexible working

On-site nursery

Job summary

University of Plymouth in Plymouth seeks a Research Assistant to lead laboratory work transforming medical waste into second-life nanomaterials for a greener NHS. You will drive regeneration and upcycling of carbon adsorbents in medical capture systems, coordinate with industry partners, and validate processes in a 37-hour week, 12-month fixed-term role.

The role requires expertise in functional nanomaterials, advanced characterisation techniques, and project leadership.

Qualifications

• Strong background in functional nanomaterials design, carbon valorisation and/or synthesis, or circular process engineering.
• Experience in advanced material characterisation techniques, specifically gas sorption, electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), and XRD.
• Project leadership: manage complex experimental workplans and deliverables in a collaborative research environment.
• A commitment to circular economy principles and translating lab-scale research into real-world environmental solutions.

Responsibilities

• Adsorbent regeneration: develop and optimise thermal, chemical, and hybrid reactivation protocols.
• Second-life photocatalysis: test spent carbons as second-life adsorbents and photocatalysts to degrade pollutants.
• Advanced material characterisation across lifecycle using N2 sorption, SEM/TEM, XRD, and TGA.

Skills

Functional nanomaterials design

Carbon valorisation

Circular process engineering

Tools

Gas sorption

SEM/TEM

XRD

TGA

Job description

Research Assistant

location_on Plymouth 06/09/2026 The job details are shown below. For further information click on the link for the job description.

Job details

Salary £35,608 - £38,784 per annum - Grade 6
Contractual hours 37 Basis FT Temporary Fulltime All Year
Interview date Wednesday 16 September 2026
Job category/type Academic/Research
Date posted 05/08/2026
Job reference B1332
Attachments B1332 Job Description.pdf

Description

Are you an ambitious materials scientist or chemical engineer looking to bridge the gap between healthcare sustainability and clean energy innovation? Join us to lead the charge in transforming medical waste into second-life nanomaterials for a greener NHS.

About the role

As a Research Assistant (RA), you will be the primary experimental lead for the "Circularity and sustainability in volatile anaesthetics" project. Reporting directly to the academic lead, you will be responsible for demonstrating scalable regeneration and upcycling strategies for carbon adsorbents used in medical carbon capture systems. You will manage the laboratory-scale validation of thermal and chemical processes and coordinate with industrial partners, including SageTech Medical and the Manufacturing Technology Centre.

This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week on a fixed-term basis for 12 months due to funding.

Key responsibilities and projects:

• Adsorbent regeneration: Develop and optimise thermal, chemical, and hybrid reactivation protocols to restore the capacity of exhausted carbon materials from medical capture systems.
• Second-life photocatalysis and remediation: Lead the preliminary testing and evaluation of spent carbons as "second-life" adsorbents and photocatalysts to degrade persistent pharmaceutical pollutants, such as propofol and ibuprofen, in hospital effluents.
• Advanced material characterisation: Execute comprehensive characterisation throughout the material lifecycle, using N2 sorption, SEM/TEM, Raman, XRD, and TGA.

For more information on School of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences please visit our dedicated webpage at https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools

Due to the nature of the role, unfortunately we are unable to accommodate working from home.

The successful candidate may be required to obtain an ATAS Certificate prior to this research being undertaken.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Lee Durndell: by email at [e-mail]

What we’re looking for:

• Technical expertise: A strong background in functional nanomaterials design, carbon valorisation and/or synthesis, or circular process engineering.
• Analytical proficiency: Experience in advanced material characterisation techniques, specifically gas sorption, electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD).
• Project leadership: Proven ability to manage complex experimental workplans and meet deliverables in a collaborative research environment.
• Sustainable mindset: A commitment to circular economy principles and the translation of lab-scale research into real-world environmental solutions.

For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.

About us

You will join a high-impact, interdisciplinary team collaborating across the University of Plymouth (UoP), SageTech Medical, and the National Health Service (NHS). This project sits at the forefront of the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing – Grand Challenge. You will have access to world-class facilities, including UoP’s specialised reactors and industry partner facilities, providing a unique platform for high-level academic and industrial networking.

The School of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education.

The University of Plymouth has a strong interdisciplinary research ethos which is supported by our two strategic Research Institutes; the Marine Institute and the Sustainable Earth Institute. As a member of our academic community, you’ll be expected to contribute to our recognised research strengths. Working holistically across the University, you will be challenged to innovate, collaborate and deliver impactful research contributions as part of a systems thinking approach to addressing today’s global challenges.

Application Process

Following the closing date of the vacancy, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course.

Our Offer

We have a wide range of staff benefits available to employees, depending on eligibility:

• Generous annual leave: 25 Days Annual Leave (pro rata if part-time) plus Bank Holidays* & Closure Days*
• Generous pension scheme
• Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave
• Flexible working
• Retailer discounts
• On-site nursery

A summary of our comprehensive benefits can be viewed here .

Additional Information

The University of Plymouth is building an inclusive and equitable university where everyone feels represented, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is guided by the Inclusive Institutions Framework, a strategic and externally validated approach that embeds these principles across the entire institution. To find out more please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages