Research Associate (Actinide Materials Recycle and Solution Process Chemistry)

Diversity Dashboard; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employer contribution pension

29 days annual leave + bank holidays

Ride to work and EV car scheme

Job summary

The University of Manchester invites applications for a Research Associate in the Actinides Centre of Excellence (ACE), a collaboration with AWE. The role develops actinide process chemistry and chemical engineering across multiple projects, contributing to sustainable recovery processes and training future nuclear talent.

You will design and perform experimental work on actinide dissolution, solvent extraction, ion exchange, precipitation and electrodeposition, collaborating with teams in

Qualifications

• Experimental research in actinide process chemistry and chemical engineering to develop recovery processes.
• Openness to working across multiple projects and collaborating with ACE teams.

Responsibilities

• Undertake experimental research to develop and optimize actinide recovery processes.
• Perform scale-up experiments to support design of advanced actinide recovery processes.
• Study actinide speciation across solution conditions and media.
• Collaborate with analysis, spectroscopy and solid-state science groups within ACE.

Skills

Actinide process chemistry

Chemical engineering

Scale-up experiments

Speciation analysis

Job description

This Research Associate (RA) will form an integral part of the Actinides Centre of Excellence (ACE), which is a collaboration between the University of Manchester and AWE, and has the intention to grow by the inclusion of other national partners and universities. This role represents an exciting opportunity by helping to establish ACE (https://www.awe.co.uk/2026/06/awe-and-the-university-of-manchester-launch-actinides-centre-of-excellence/) - a national hub of collaborative research activity that aims to progress fundamental and low TRL Actinide Science & Innovation, intends to attract and train cohorts of future nuclear talent, and create tomorrow's Subject Matter Experts. This role is part of a commitment from both the University of Manchester and AWE to advancing actinides research and innovation across thematic areas including materials recycle and solution process chemistry, and will play a pivotal part in shaping our future research landscape in nuclear science and engineering.

The RA will be responsible for undertaking experimental research in actinide process chemistry and chemical engineering to assist in the development, optimization and sustainability of advanced actinide recovery processes. This role provides the opportunity to work across multiple projects over the term of the post delivering high priority actinide research needs for AWE as determined by the ACE management team. Experimental research activities are likely to vary from, for example, understanding actinide speciation in a wide range of solution process conditions to undertaking scale up experiments to support the design of advanced actinide recovery processes. Processes of interest may involve (but are not limited to):

• Dissolution
• Ion exchange/adsorption
• Solvent extraction, precipitation
• Electrodeposition operations;

across primarily aqueous systems but could also involve organic and molten salt media. It is expected this research associate will closely engage with the other ACE research focus areas in analysis & spectroscopy and solid state science, and contribute to the growth of ACE activities with the involvement of new partners and expanded research interests. This role, therefore, offers a significant opportunity to develop a wide range of high-level skills and expertise providing a clear pathway to become a highly valued subject matter expert for the nuclear sector.

(Grades 6-9)

Our benefits include:
Generous employer contribution pension
29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits . You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here .

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Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Clint Sharrad (Deputy Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute)

Email: [e-mail]

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