Research Fellow in Computational Mineral Physics

UCL; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a prestigious institution at the forefront of earth sciences, where you will engage in groundbreaking research on high-temperature ab initio calculations. This role offers the chance to collaborate with leading experts and contribute to vital projects exploring planetary differentiation. With exceptional benefits including extensive holiday leave, a supportive work environment, and a commitment to diversity, this position is perfect for ambitious candidates eager to make a significant impact in their field.

Benefits

41 Days holiday

Defined benefit pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

On-site gym

Employee assistance programme

Discounted medical insurance

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in physics or geosciences or equivalent experience required.
• Experience with high-temperature ab initio molecular dynamics is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Conduct ab initio calculations for partition coefficients of HSEs.
• Collaborate with professors and researchers on complex planetary differentiation.

Skills

Ab initio calculations

High-temperature molecular dynamics

Physics

Geosciences

Education

Ph.D. in Physics or Geosciences

First degree in Physics or Geophysics

Tools

VASP

Job description

About us

UCL Earth Sciences is one of the oldest centres for earth and planetary sciences in the UK. Situated in Bloomsbury in the heart of London, the department's location is ideal for taking full advantage of the city's cultural facilities for study and leisure, which are unmatched nationwide. The British Library and the British Museum are close by, and other great museums and art galleries - from the Tate, Tate Modern and National Gallery to the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum - are within minutes by underground.

About the role

We seek an ambitious candidate who wishes to join the Mineral Physics group in UCL Earth Sciences.

The aim of this project is to use state of the art ab initio calculations to obtain the partition coefficients of all the HSEs (which include Os, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pt, Pd, Au, and Re) between the core and mantle under the P/T conditions appropriate for planetary differentiation. The ultimate vision is to use these new results to assess whether there is a need for a Late Veneer at all, or whether something more evolutionarily complex is required. This is a collaborative project between Prof. Vocadlo and Prof. Brodholt at UCL, and with Prof. Steven Mojzsis (CFSK, Hungary) and Dr. Haiyang Luo (Princeton).

About you

Candidates should have completed a Ph.D. in physics or geosciences, or have equivalent experience, and have a first degree in physics, geophysics or a related subject.

Experience of high-temperature ab initio molecular dynamics calculations (using codes such as VASP) is an advantage. The post, which is funded by NERC for two years in the first instance, is located in the Earth Sciences department on the UCL campus in central London.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Our department holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality.