Advanced Research Fellow

Type of Contract: Full-time, funding limited for 2 years

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic Advanced Research Fellow with a strong background in solid-state battery chemistry to join a vibrant research team under the leadership of Dr Ieuan Seymour in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Aberdeen. This post is supported by Dr Ieuan Seymour’s UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship on ‘Sustainability from Cradle to Grave: Halide Based Electrolytes for All-Solid-State-Batteries’.

The successful candidate will be part of an interdisciplinary and inclusive team working on the discovery, synthesis, and testing of new, more sustainable materials for solid-state battery applications. A key aspect of this role will be developing an experimental platform to study interfacial transport and degradation mechanisms between Co-free cathode materials and novel halide-based solid-state electrolytes. The project will involve both in-depth electrochemical testing of solid-state batteries and the use of local structural characterisation techniques, such as focused-ion beam secondary ion mass spectrometry (FIB-SIMS) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), in collaboration with project partners. This project will also involve the synthesis of new solid-state electrolyte materials predicted by other members of the Fellowship team through computational materials discovery.

As part of the project, the successful candidate will have opportunities to collaborate with other groups working on energy materials within the University of Aberdeen, including the newly established Advanced Centre for Energy and Sustainability in the Chemistry Department. They will also lead collaborative efforts with project partners at the University of Austin Texas, the University of St Andrews and the University of Birmingham. The position offers the possibility to attend workshops and training courses on areas such as electrochemistry, computational modelling or project management to further the academic and professional development of the research fellow. Throughout the project, the successful candidate will be provided with regular mentorship and support to help them develop their own academic independence.

Salary will be at the appropriate point on Grade 7, £46,485- £49,250 per annum, with placement according to qualifications and experience.

Informal enquiries should be made to Dr Ieuan Seymour, Lecturer in Chemistry, e-mail:  ieuan.seymour@abdn.ac.uk

Should you require a visa to undertake employment in the UK you will be required to fulfil the minimum points criteria to be granted a Certificate of Sponsorship under the requirements of the Skilled Worker visa. At the time an offer of appointment is made, you will be asked to demonstrate that you fulfil the criteria in respect of qualification and competency in English. For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. Please do not hesitate to contact Lucy Redmayne, HR Adviser (e-mail: lucy.redmayne@abdn.ac.uk) for further information.

To apply online for this position click the 'Apply' button above.

Please ensure to provide a cover letter with your application detailing how you meet the requirements of the role. Please note this is a mandatory part of the application process and we will not consider applications which don’t provide a cover letter. 

The School of Natural and Computing Sciences embraces a diverse working environment and recognises the many benefits this can bring.  Applications from individuals from across all of the equality protected characteristics are encouraged.

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