Research Associate

University of York; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

University of York in York, England, invites applications for a Research Associate in Time-Resolved Electron Diffraction to join Dr Derek Wann’s group in the Department of Chemistry. The appointment is full-time for up to 30 months to support the department during leadership transition.

The role offers freedom to shape a project aligned with your experience and ambitions. Ideal candidates will hold a PhD in time-resolved structure determination or related fields and have experience with gases,

Qualifications

• You will have an undergraduate degree in Chemistry or Physics or a related subject and PhD in time-resolved structure determination
• You will have knowledge of, and experience in, some of the following: handling and manipulation of gases, working with moderately high vacuums, use of class 4 lasers, and working with high-energy electrons, quantum chemical modelling, programming, and automation of experiments
• You will have highly developed communication skills to engage effectively with a wide ranging audience, both orally and in writing; demonstrated ability to write up research work for publication; ability to work as part of a team and also to work independently using own initiative; ability to develop research objectives, projects and proposals for own and joint research.

Responsibilities

• Design a project to match the research associate’s previous experience and future academic ambitions.
• Develop a strand of research to incorporate spectroscopic studies in parallel to the existing diffraction experiments.
• Support Dr Derek Wann while he is Head of Department and contribute to future funding applications either independently or collaboratively.

Skills

Time management

Communication skills

Independent research

Project design

Publication writing

Spectroscopic studies

Programming

Automation of experiments

Education

PhD in time-resolved structure determination

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or Physics

Tools

Class 4 lasers

Gas handling & high vacuum

High-energy electron techniques

Quantum chemical modelling

Automation of experiments

Job description

An exciting opportunity exists for a Research Associate in Time-Resolved Electron Diffraction to join Dr Derek Wann’s group in the Department of Chemistry at the University of York, UK. This full-time position is available for up to 30 months in support of Dr Wann’s tenure as Head of Department. It is hoped that the successful applicant can use the position as a springboard to applying for further funding either independently or collaboratively.

Department

The Department of Chemistry is one of the largest and most successful departments at York and we are renowned internationally for our research. As a Department, we strive to provide a working environment that allows all staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish, and to excel. We are proud of our Athena Swan Gold Award.

Role

This position has been created to support Dr Derek Wann while he is Head of Department. The role will see some freedom to design a project to the research associate’s previous experience and future academic ambitions. An ideal candidate would be a postdoctoral researcher with expertise in some of the following: the handling and manipulation of gases, working with moderately high vacuum, use of class 4 lasers, and working with high-energy electrons. Experience of quantum chemical modelling, programming, and automation of experiments may also come in useful. Developing a strand of research to incorporate spectroscopic studies in parallel to the existing diffraction experiments is one direction in which this project might be taken.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

You will:

• have an undergraduate degree in Chemistry or Physics or a related subject and PhD in time-resolved structure determination
• have knowledge of, and experience in, some of the following: handling and manipulation of gases, working with moderately high vacuums, use of class 4 lasers, and working with high-energy electrons, quantum chemical modelling, programming, and automation of experiments
• have highly developed communication skills to engage effectively with a wide ranging audience, both orally and in writing; demonstrated ability to write up research work for publication; ability to work as part of a team and also to work independently using own initiative; ability to develop research objectives, projects and proposals for own and joint research.

Interview date: Interviews will likely be held in person in York in early September 2026

For informal enquiries: please contact Dr Derek Wann on [e-mail]