Research Associate in Electromagnetic Metamaterial Coatings

The University of Edinburgh; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Part time

Job summary

An esteemed university in Scotland is seeking a dynamic researcher for a part-time, fixed-term role to develop real-world applicable coating systems utilizing DNA nanotechnology. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in materials science, creativity in problem-solving, and robust communication skills. The position promises an exciting working environment and substantial benefits, fostering both personal and professional development.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Defined benefits pension scheme

Staff discounts

Family-friendly initiatives

Flexible working

Qualifications

• Tenacity, drive and desire to make a real-world impact.
• Ability to work under pressure with pragmatic scientific rigor.
• Broad-based appreciation of engineering.

Responsibilities

• Drive research efforts to deliver large-area coating systems.
• Build on proof-of-concept work for DNA nanotechnology.
• Enable real-world deployment of nanocomposite structures.

Skills

Materials technologist

Scientific rigor

Creativity in problem solving

Excellent communication skills

Job description

Grade UE07: £41,064 to £48,822 per annum, pro-rata if part time

College of Science & Engineering / School of Engineering / Institute of Bioengineering

Part-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed term: up to 12 months

We are looking for a dynamic researcher to drive forwards our efforts to deliver a real-world applicable, large-area coating system that embeds electromagnetic metamaterials optimised for response in the visible region. Our platform technology has widespread applications across diverse impact domains including optoelectronics, photonics, and EM energy management.

The Opportunity:

Our endeavours are at a key pre-commercial stage from which we aspire to spin‑out. This presents an excellent opportunity for a short‑term post‑doctoral research position with the prospect of a leading role in follow‑on entrepreneurial efforts. The research effort will build on our proof‑of‑concept work establishing DNA nanotechnology as a route to programmable, bottom‑up, mass self‑assembly of nanocomposite structures. These structures require formulation into a coating system to enable their real‑world deployment.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• A materials technologist (or similar) with tenacity, drive and desire to make a real-world impact.
• A scientific rigour tempered with pragmatism when under pressure.
• Creativity in problem solving informed by a broad-based appreciation of engineering.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Click here to view a copy of the full job description

As a valued member of our team you can expect:

An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. We give you support, nurture your talent and reward success. You will benefit from a competitive reward package and a wide range of staff benefits, which includes a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, flexible working and much more. Click to access our staff benefits page for further information and use ourreward calculator to find out the total value of pay and benefits provided.

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

If invited for interview you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab).

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.

the closing date for applications is 12 December 2025

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