Research Assistant/Research Associate (ARIA) (Fixed Term)

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Cambridge seeks a Research Associate to develop autonomous robotic workflows for high-throughput inorganic nanoparticle synthesis on protein templates and to advance real-time data management. You will lead closed-loop experiments connecting robotics with data pipelines.

The role requires a PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, collaboration across ARIA project teams, and strong Python programming skills for research data management.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant discipline and strong publishing record.
• Experience with laboratory automation and autonomous experiments.
• Proficiency in Python for data handling and workflow orchestration.

Responsibilities

• Lead design of closed-loop robotic workflows for automated synthesis and characterisation.
• Develop data pipelines and real-time data management for high-throughput experiments.
• Supervise Masters and PhD students and contribute to manuscripts.

Skills

Lab automation

Python programming

Data pipelines

High-throughput experiments

Robotics integration

Collaboration

Education

PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry or Chemical Engineering

Tools

Automation platforms

Data management software

Characterisation hardware (UV-Vis, PL)

Job description

Fixed-term: The Research Associate position is available from 1 September 2026 for 18 months in the first instance.

Applicants should have experience in laboratory automation in materials chemistry. Experience in building and operating automated or self-driving laboratory workflows is essential, including the integration and orchestration of robotic platforms for solution-based synthesis and characterisation. Candidates should have strong Python programming skills and experience in research data management, such as designing data pipelines and standardised data capture for high-throughput experiments.

Experience with hardware instrumentation is desirable, including developing automated setups that integrate synthesis, in-line or automated characterisation (e.g. UV-Vis, photoluminescence, dynamic light scattering, or X-ray scattering/diffraction), and property testing workflows. Familiarity with agentic AI systems, machine learning for experiment planning (e.g. Bayesian optimisation and active learning), and laboratory orchestration software is welcome, and candidates with an interest in combining experimental work with data-driven approaches are strongly encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute intellectually to research on autonomous experimentation, with a focus on developing robotic workflows for the high-throughput synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles on protein templates and the associated characterisation. They will lead the design of closed-loop experiments that connect robotics and real-time data management, and efforts to understand the materials assembly across length scales. They will also contribute to drafting scientific manuscripts, and support the day-to-day supervision of Master's and PhD students.

Applicants should hold a PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline. They should be committed to collaborative and interdisciplinary research and demonstrate the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. The successful candidate will work in the Autonomous Materials Group under the supervision of Dr Shijing Sun and collaborate across the ARIA project teams.

This job is part of an Advanced Research +Invention Agency-funded project, subject to contract negotiations, as a result funding for this position is only confirmed for 18 months at this time. Further details can be discussed at interview.

Successful candidates who have not yet received their PhD by 1st September 2026 will be employed on University Grade 5 SP038 as Research Assistants (£34,610). Upon being awarded their PhD, their salary will be upgraded to Grade 7 041 (£37,694) as Research Associates.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.