Research Fellow: Materials Synthesis & Characterisation (Fixed-Term)

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

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