Research Fellow (Nuclear Energy and Materials)

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to March 2026

Background

The University of Birmingham has rapidly increasing research activities in nuclear energy and materials combining the research expertise in both Schools of Metallurgy and Materials and Physics. This post is a key member of a research team to lead a range of research activities in nuclear energy and materials at the University. 

We wish to recruit a self-motivated, entrepreneurial and competent experimentalist to generate proof-of-concept data and ideas in the area of tritium breeding for fusion application and broad nuclear research. As such the post holder will have the opportunity to collaborate with other active researchers in both schools and also in other partner universities and organisations.

The successful applicant will have direct access to a range of facilities available in the research group and beyond, including advanced electron microscopes and a number of unique degradation testing equipment dedicated for nuclear materials.

Main Duties

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods 
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews 
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters 
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research 
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• Hold a PhD (or near to completion) in an area relevant to Metallurgy, Physics or Engineering
• The candidate is expected to be experienced in one or more of the following areas: nuclear irradiation damage (e.g. using light ions or neutron); neutronics modelling (e.g. using MCNP) ; physical metallurgy (e.g. microstructural characterisation of metals); mechanical testing (e.g. creep); instrumentation (e.g. installation and commission of new equipment)

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof Yu-Lung Chiu, email: y.chiu@bham.ac.uk, or telephone 0121 4145190

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

Closes: 01/05/2026

Advert information