Assistant/Associate Professor in the Physics of Energy Materials

We are seeking an exceptional early career scientist to develop an ambitious experimental programme in the Physics of Energy Materials. Our Energy Materials program seeks to develop and support physics which can transform the way the world generates, stores and uses energy. We recognise that such breakthroughs must be underpinned by foundational physics that explores new physical mechanisms, new materials and new experimental techniques that can unlock the potential of these materials.

Current work at the Cavendish Laboratory includes research into photovoltaics, LEDs, batteries, photocatalysis, thermoelectric, plasmonics, superconductivity and spintronics. We seek exceptional candidates, whose research falls within the area of Energy Materials, broadly interpreted, to complement and further the work of the Cavendish. Illustrative examples of possible areas of interest for this position may include: the advanced characterisation of energy materials (perhaps leveraging large facilities); the study of novel physical concepts in energy conversion processes such as the control and application of light-matter coupling for photocatalysis and photovoltaics; or new approaches, based on novel physics or new materials, to reduce energy consumption in data processing and storage.

The department hosts an active and vibrant research community in the area of energy materials (www.phy.cam.ac.uk/research-themes/energy-materials), consisting of 15 academics and more than 200 postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. We collaborate extensively with other departments, including the Winton Programme for the Physics of Sustainability (www.winton.phy.cam.ac.uk) and Energy@Cambridge (www.energy.cam.ac.uk).

The Assistant/Associate Professor post will be associated with our new 'Advanced Materials for the Energy Transition' (AMET) Taught MPhil Programme, which is a joint course with the Departments of Materials Science and Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. The successful candidate will be involved in the running of the MPhil with tasks including: course management; the admission of students; creation and delivery of some lectures; examining; and running projects. We are expecting between 20-30 students to be admitted to the new MPhil from October 2025. As with all our academic staff, they will also support teaching and administration at other levels in the department.

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics (or a cognate discipline), a strong record of relevant research, and must show evidence of enthusiasm and ability to teach a wide range of physics courses successfully at both undergraduate and master's level.

Appointment will be based on merit alone. As a signatory of DORA (sfdora.org) the University is committed to assessing research on its own merits rather than on the basis of the journal in which it is published.

Please ensure that in the Upload section of the online application you provide:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• A full list of publications. Please highlight up to 5 papers where you have made the most significant personal contributions, with up to 4 lines of text for each such paper;
• A research proposal no longer than 3 pages, including a brief description (not more than half a page) of how your research plans might fit with existing activities at the Department of Physics and the wider University;
• A one-page statement on your approach to teaching and how you believe you can contribute to the Department's teaching programme at undergraduate and graduate level;
• Contact details of three referees. Please make your referees aware they will be contacted shortly after the closing date.

Shortlisted applicants will be informed at the end of November 2024. They will be invited to visit Cambridge in January 2025 for a departmental visit, informal discussions with faculty, to give a presentation, and attend the formal interview.

We particularly welcome applications from women and /or candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our department.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above. 

For informal enquiries, prospective candidates are invited to contact Prof Akshay Rao (ar525@cam.ac.uk)

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.