Research Associate (Mineral Cementitious Materials Science)

University of Bath; Bath; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK University seeks a Research Associate to join a collaborative project focusing on cementitious materials and their transformation into carbon sinks. The ideal candidate will have a doctoral degree in Materials Science, Geology, or Environmental Science. Responsibilities include determining mineral correlations and applying analytical techniques like X-ray diffraction. This 18-month full-time role offers a salary between £38,784 and £46,049, emphasizing a diverse and inclusive working environment.

Benefits

Minimum 10 days professional development per year

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Qualifications

• Demonstrated understanding of the chemistry of evaluated cements.
• Experience in characterising Portland and non-Portland cements.
• Knowledge in mechanochemical processing of minerals.

Responsibilities

• Determine correlations between mineral properties and chemical reactivity.
• Elucidate effects of mechanochemical activation on microstructure.
• Apply analytical materials characterization techniques.

Skills

Fluency or good understanding of Spanish

Fluency or good understanding of French

Cementitious materials chemistry

Mineral processing

Characterisation and modelling

Education

Doctoral degree in Materials Science

Doctoral degree in Geology

Doctoral degree in Environmental Science

Tools

X-ray diffraction

Thermogravimetry

Spectroscopy

X-ray computerised tomography

Job description

About the role

Here at the University of Bath, we are looking for a Research Associate to join on us on an exciting partnership with the University of Malaga in Spain, the University of Manchester, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in France.

This project sits within the framework of the consortium, X-SeeO2-Real-time X-ray diffraction and microstructure imaging: accelerating the transformation of cementitious materials into CO2sinks, funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) under the Pathfinder “Towards Cement and Concrete as Carbon Sinks” Challenge.

The Challenge seeks to support breakthrough innovations and (alternative) pathways for producing decarbonised and carbon-negative cement and concrete while maintaining its structural integrity and durability. The ‘X-SeeO2’ project has been selected as a key ‘enabling technology’, and as part of the team you will develop mechanochemistry pathways for the development of cementitious materials from mineral resources.

Duties will include but not be limited to

• Determining the existing correlations between the properties of minerals of different provenances, and the effect of mechanochemical processing on their chemical reactivity.
• Elucidate how to mechanochemically activated mineral resources influence the microstructure features of reaction products formed in blended cements produced with them.
• Apply laboratory and synchrotron analytical materials characterisation techniques (e.g. X‑ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, spectroscopy, and X‑ray computerised tomography, and others).
• Create model of the processes and/or materials developed in this project.

About the candidate

• Doctoral degree in Materials Science, Geology, Environmental Science or closely allied disciplines
• Fluency or good understanding of Spanish and/or French languages will be helpful but not essential
• Background in cementitious materials chemistry and/or mineral processing
• Experience in the characterisation and modelling of Portland and/or non‑Portland cements
• A demonstrated understanding of the interrelationships between the chemistry of the cements evaluated, their phase assemblage and their pore structure development.

You will be working and collaborating with a dynamic, collegial, and multi‑disciplinary team of researchers at the University of Bath, and the different partner Universities and organisations comprising the X-SeeO2 consortium.

Further Information

For more detailed information about the position please do read the job description and additional information documents.

This role is offered on a full time (36.5 hours) fixed term basis for 18 months from May 2026 to August 2028.

For an informal conversation about the role please contact Professor Susan Bernal Lopez on [e-mail].

As a member of Research Staff at the University of Bath, you will be encouraged to take up a minimum of 10 days professional development pro rata per year.

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under‑represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We're very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. an accredited Disability Confident Leader; autism friendly university, committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.

£38,784 to £46,049. Grade 7