Research Fellow

Queen's University Belfast; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday entitlement 8.4 weeks

Pension schemes

Development opportunities

Job summary

Queen's University Belfast invites applications for a two-year Research Fellow position within Professor Swadzba-Kwasny's group, funded by EPSRC and Ionic Technologies. The role focuses on hydrogen fluoride-free routes for converting recycled rare earth feeds into fluorides, with emphasis on synthesis, characterisation, and process development.

Collaborative industrial-scale trials are planned. The candidate will lead in synthesis, physicochemical characterisation, data analysis, and

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry, materials science or a closely related field.
• Experience with multi-technique inorganic materials characterisation.
• Ability to interpret and critically evaluate data.

Responsibilities

• Lead materials synthesis and physico-chemical characterisation.
• Develop calcination and powder engineering processes for downstream metallisation.
• Contribute to industrial-scale trials with Ionic Technologies.
• Prepare journal papers and patent contributions where applicable.

Skills

Team collaboration

Data analysis

Publish papers

Supervise students

Education

PhD in chemistry, materials science or relevant subject

Tools

pXRD

XRD (single-crystal)

SEM/EDX

DSC/TGA/STA

EXAFS

Laser diffraction (PSD)

ICP-OES

XRF

Job description

Applications are invited for a two-year, fixed-term Research Fellow position in the group of Professor Swadzba-Kwasny, funded through an EPSRC Materials Innovation Partnership project and delivered in collaboration with Ionic Technologies.

The project will develop innovative, hydrogen fluoride-free routes for converting recycled rare earth oxide feedstocks into rare earth fluorides. The successful candidate will take a leading role in materials synthesis and physicochemical characterisation, contribute to the development of calcination and powder engineering processes for downstream metallisation, and participate in industrial scale trials at Ionic Technologies.

About the person:

• Have or be about to obtain a PhD in chemistry, material science or a relevant subject. About to will be defined as thesis submission within 3 months of application date.
• Specific, relevant research experience to include:
  • Experience in the use of multi-technique characterisation of inorganic materials, including at least some of the following: pXRD, single-crystal XRD, SEM/EDX, DSC/TGA/STA, EXAFS, laser diffraction (PSD), ICP-OES, XRF.
  • Working effectively as part of a research team in the development and promotion of the research theme.
• Ability to carry out analyse, interpret and critically evaluate data.
• Ability to prepare journal papers and/or contribute to patent preparation.
• Ability to supervise research students.
• Strong publication record commensurate with stage of career.

This is not an exhaustive list. To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.

This post is available for 24 months. Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

What we offer:

• Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities.
• We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health.
• You can find more detail on all of this and more at https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/HumanResources/pay-reward-and-benefits/.

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all.

We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and haveestablishedstaff networks such asiRise(Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.

For further information on our commitment to Equality,Diversityand Inclusion, please visit www.qub.ac.uk/diversity.

If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application - http://go.qub.ac.uk/internationalstaffsupport .