Research Associate (Fixed Term)

Cambridge University Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cambridge University Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology invites applications for a post-doctoral research fellow to join the VALUED project focusing on ML-assisted experimentation for functional materials derived from bio-renewable resources. The successful candidate will work under Prof.

Alexei Lapkin at the Innovation Centre in Digital Molecular Technologies (IDMT) and collaborate with Imperial College London, University of Bristol and Cambridge groups.

Qualifications

• Experience with high-throughput chemical experimentation.
• Ability to develop and validate predictive machine learning models for chemical problems.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills for multi-institutional projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop ML-assisted experimentation workflows for functional materials from bio-renewable resources.
• Create and evaluate predictive models to support high-throughput experiments and materials development.
• Collaborate with iDMT researchers and partners (Imperial College London, University of Bristol and Cambridge teams) to advance project goals.

Skills

High-throughput experiments

Predictive ML models

Education

PhD in a related field

Job description

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology is seeking a post-doctoral research fellow to step into the ongoing project. The project is part of a large collaborative research effort involving Imperial College London, University of Bristol and three other groups at Cambridge. More information about the overarching project can be found here: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/bio-sustainable-materials/

VALUED is aiming to demonstrate the development of functional materials derived from bio-renewable resources. Several different applications are being developed in the project. The experimental programme involves development of high-throughput experimental capability (at Imperial College London). The SRE group (Prof Lapkin) is developing ML methods supporting the experimental HT workflows. The team at Cambridge has its own high-throughput and robotics facilities. In this final period of the project the team will focus on ML-assisted experimentation for developing functional materials based on bio- and natural polymers. Practical knowledge of high-throughput chemical experiments and good experience in developing predictive machine learning models for chemical problems are essential for this position.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Prof. Alexei Lapkin and will be based at the Innovation Centre in Digital Molecular Technologies (https://idmt.online). iDMT hosts academic and industrial researchers from the centre members. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to activities within iDMT in collaboration with member companies, in the areas overlapping with the expertise involved in the VALUED project.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 months.

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.