Research Associate in Nanofabrication of 2D Graphene Liquid Cells for Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

Job reference: SAE-027994
Salary: £36,924 to £45,163 per annum, depending on relevant experience
Faculty/Organisational unit: Science and Engineering
Location: Manchester
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Department of Materials
Hours per week: Full Time (1 FTE)
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 25/02/2025
Contract duration: 24 Months
School/directorate: School of Natural Sciences

Background:

Atomic structure and dynamics at the solid-liquid interface fundamentally govern the properties and performance of many key processes, including catalysis and energy storage applications. Understanding these systems provides the key to improving their function and efficiency.

You will be working on a project within the University of Manchester, between the electron microscopy centre and the National Graphene Institute (NGI). This work will involve the development graphene liquid cells fabrication methods (within the cleanroom facilities in the NGI), as well as advanced image processing and atom tracking methods to gain a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the systems being studied. This project will form part of Prof. Haigh’s 5 year ERC research grant (SoluTEM).

The scanning transmission electron miscopy will be carried out using the University of Manchester’s electron microscopy centre and the Electron Physical Sciences Imaging Centre in Harwell. This work would be building upon the work of group’s previous developments including: Clark, N. et al. Nature 609, 942–947 (2022) & Kelly, D. J. et al. Nano Letters 18, 1168–1174 (2018).

Overall Purpose of the Job:

(Scanning) transmission electron microscopy is one of the few techniques able to directly visualise nanoscale compositional changes and single atoms within a liquid environment.

This post-doctoral research associate position will investigate nanomaterial structures and behaviours through the development of nanoscale devices, imaged using advanced TEM/STEM microscopes. This project will build upon the currently existing fabrication techniques to develop graphene liquid cell fabrication and the production of novel devices. You will work closely with physicists and material scientists to enable the characterisation and understanding of the phenomena observed within the developed devices.

Prior hands-on experience of high-level nanofabrication of graphene liquid cells using micromechanical exfoliation and recombination of 2D materials into atomically clean van der Waals heterostructures is essential. Experience in image processing using Python for atomic scale TEM/STEM is highly desired. A willingness to occasionally travel (nationally and internationally) to other labs in order to perform TEM/STEM experiments for a period of days- weeks would also be an advantage.

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Any recruitment enquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to People.Recruitment@manchester.ac.uk.

Any CVs submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Prof Sarah Haigh

Email: sarah.haigh@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email: People.recruitment@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support: jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

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