32 Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

We are looking for a Research Associate/Senior Research Associate to join the Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre in the Department of Computer Science and Technology.

The Research Associate/Senior Research Associate will play a pivotal role in conducting and leading research projects focused on computing education within the school system in the UK and beyond. The person we are looking for will already have published in the field of computing education research and be able to work independently on their own research, which will be aligned to one or more of the research areas of the Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre. They will also be able to lead on at least one of the core longitudinal research projects being conducted by the research centre, and support other research projects as needed. Over time, the candidate would also be able to represent the research centre externally.

The Hebrew Studies section of the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the field of modern reading traditions of the Hebrew Bible.

One of the major projects in the Hebrew Studies section is the compilation of a reference grammar of Biblical Hebrew. The new grammar will bring together current knowledge of the different traditions of Biblical Hebrew, incorporate research on Biblical Hebrew that has been published in recent decades and incorporate new research on Biblical Hebrew undertaken by the research team in Cambridge. We are seeking a postdoctoral Research Associate to join the team to work on the modern reading traditions that have been transmitted orally among various Jewish communities down to modern times.

A position exists, for a Research Assistant/Associate in the Department of Engineering, to work on aperiodic quantum photonic devices.

The Research Assistant/Associate will join the Integrated Quantum Photonics group, based in the Nanoscience Centre at the University of Cambridge, a newly founded research group that works on simulation, nanofabrication and optical characterisation of nano- and quantum photonic devices, integrating quantum light emitters.

They will work on a research project focused on the development of aperiodic photonic devices embedding light emitter for fundamental quantum optics experiments and for the realisation of single-photon devices and novel nano-lasers with enhanced performances for quantum technology applications. Their work will build upon our recent work in the area [see, for instance, Applied Physics Letters 117, 124006 (2020) and Applied Physics Letters 118, 011103 (2021)].

A position exists, for a Research Assistant/Associate in the Department of Engineering, to work on Batteries. The post holder will be located in Central Cambridge Cambridgeshire, UK.

Energy materials such as lithium ion batteries and fuel cells are prone to degradation by a range of failure mechanisms including swell-induced fatigue and micro-cracking. The apparent toughness may be a function of chemical composition, and the driving force for failure may have an electrical component in addition to mechanical component. Topology has a major effect both on performance and on the failure mechanisms.

There is a research opening for a Research Associate at the post-doctoral level (or a researcher who is soon to receive their PhD), with a working experience of solid mechanics and possibly with previous research on electrochemical technology. The job is to develop a coupled mechanical and electrochemical model for device performance and degradation.

The key responsibilities and duties are to conduct numerical research into the mechanics of batteries. The role holder is also expected take part in collaborative work, and contribute to seminars, and to take part in the research group’s activities publish in the open literature and liaise with the sponsors.

The successful candidate must have obtained or be close to obtaining a PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related subject, have some research experience and a publication record.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.

The key responsibilities and duties are to provide technical leadership and coordination to the DRF initiative via research advancement in Digital Twins within its existing grants; authoring new grant proposals; authoring publications and disseminating the initiative’s outcomes; teaching and learning support; administration, financial management, planning and organisation; staff management, training, and supervising; and internal and external networking, while constantly upholding the university’s values.

The skills, qualifications and experience required to perform the role are: (i) having obtained a PhD degree in any relevant engineering or science discipline, or architecture; (ii) possessing significant previous academic experience related to Digital Twins for infrastructure or the built environment as a Research Associate or equivalent; (iii) possessing a relevant and very strong academic track record with peer reviewed journal publications in top journals or patents, with some evidence of preparation of successful proposals; (iii) possessing previous project and financial management experience; (iv) possessing excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

The researcher will work on an innovative medical device project which is a collaboration between the Departments of Paediatrics and Engineering, and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The key responsibilities and duties are to project manage the grant, engaging with stakeholders ranging from parents of babies on the NICU, clinical staff, to hospital management and the wider NHS. The successful candidate will oversee the engineering development of the medical device to meet the project’s requirements, working with Cambridge Enterprise and other stakeholders to develop the commercial strategy. The postholder will be expected to contribute to and promote the continued innovation partnership between Paediatrics and Engineering.

 The central aim of the project is to investigate whether one can identify differences in the TCR repertoire of patients with IDH1 mutant gliomas from IDH1 null gliomas and from healthy controls by leveraging sequence specific information. The project will involve analysis of large sequencing datasets of TCR repertoires generated from peripheral blood in hundreds of cases and controls. There is a substantial bioinformatic and statistical component to the project.

We are looking for an enthusiastic researcher to work on analysis and astrophysical interpretation of the data coming out of the 21-cm cosmology experiments we are currently working on (e.g. REACH, project funded by an ERC Consolidator grant via UKRI funding and where Cambridge is the lead institution, and HERA). The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team of astronomers, physicists, and engineers. They could also join other related efforts, such as the development of data pipelines for the Square Kilometre Array 21-cm experiments or the CosmoCube space mission, as well as to develop their own research.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD (or close to obtaining) in physics, astronomy or closely related area with a proven track record in radio cosmology. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in 21-cm cosmology as demonstrated by publications in major journals. A solid understanding of Bayesian statistics is desired. The candidate will also have the ability to communicate effectively its own research and to perform relevant tasks for the projects they will work on, including liaising with academic partners, organisation of meetings, etc.

The University of Cambridge wishes to appoint a talented postdoctoral research associate to join the research groups of Prof Patrick Chinnery and Prof Michal Minczuk at the Department of Clinical Neurosciences and the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit.

The position is part of a joint 4-year research project with Prof Marcos Chiaratti, Sao Carlos, Brazil, and is funded by the BBSRC to advance our understanding of the biological and genetic mechanisms responsible for selecting for and against mitochondrial DNA variants in the female germ line.

The role holder will generate new mouse models transmitting mtDNA mutations using gene editing, and harness innovative single-cell techniques at different stages of mouse development to measure heteroplasmy in high throughput, linked to functional assays. You will work closely with a team of experienced bioinformaticians and statisticians to design and interpret your experimental data, and use functional genomic approaches (eg CROPseq, PerturbSeq) to experimentally validate your findings.

The team publishes high-profile publications including: Cell 2023 PMID36827974; Nature Commun 2023 PMID36823193; Nat Biomed Eng 2023 PMID36470976; Nature 2022 PMID36198798; Nature Commun 2022 PMID35468895; Nature Genetics 2021 PMID34002094; Nature Medicine 2021 PMID34426706; Science 2019 PMID31123110.

The Faculty of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge invites applications for a part-time Postdoctoral Research Associate in the field of the History and Languages of the Eastern Anatolia region.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate would work in the research team of the ERC-funded project ‘Echoes of Vanishing Voices in the Mountains: A Linguistic History of Minorities in the Near East’ (ALHOME) supervised by Professor Geoffrey Khan. The project aims to reconstruct the complex, socioreligious past of Aramaic-speaking and Kurdish-speaking communities in Western Asia through a study of the history and interrelationship of their languages.

The Halim lab (https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/research-groups/halim-group) is recruiting a highly talented and motivated scientist to join a vibrant and collaborative tissue immunology group within the University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute. We are interested in understanding the role of innate lymphoid cells in regulating the immune response in tissue-homeostasis, inflammatory diseases and cancer. We focus on the ability of ILC to regulate both innate and adaptive immunity (Halim TYF et al. Immunity 2018, Schuijs MJ et al. Nature Immunology 2020, Stockis J et al. Immunology 2019). Our long-term goal is to reveal novel fundamental immunological mechanisms related to ILC biology and immune regulation, and therapeutically modulate these in cancer and chronic inflammation.

As a postdoctoral researcher in the group, you will drive research projects that utilize novel in vivo and in vitro models to assess the function of immune cells in different disease models, as well as study signalling pathways and downstream mechanisms using cutting-edge approaches. You will join a collaborative and highly motivated team of researchers in a top ranked university and research institute. Our group is further supported by world-leading core facilities (https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/core-facilities) which researchers are encouraged to utilize to their fullest potential.

The MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge is seeking a dedicated Postdoctoral Research Associate for a two-year fixed-term position in the first place, with the possibility of extension. Join our cutting-edge research program, spearheaded by Prof. Tamar Makin, as we delve into the fascinating realms of motor control, neural representation of the human body, and robotic body augmentation technology.

As a vital member of our team, you will be responsible for establishing or joining an innovative research program aligned with the Plasticity Lab’s core interests (https://plasticity-lab.com/). Your tasks will include data collection, analysis, write-up, and dissemination of ongoing and future research. Furthermore, you will play a crucial role in supporting and training PhD students and other lab members in advanced analysis techniques.

The ideal candidate will possess expertise in sensorimotor control, motor learning, or sensory/motor brain plasticity of humans. We are relatively open-minded regarding the set of skills that the candidate will bring with them, however, candidates must have experience in designing, running, and analysing human studies, and an excellent publication track record. A typical candidates should have either advanced fMRI or MEG expertise (e.g. multivariate analysis, laminar 7T), or alternatively an impressive background in quantitative (computational) motor control, or expertise with advanced EMG (high density) and kinematics (markeless tracking) applications.

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work with Dr Tian Zhao and Prof Ziad Mallat, at the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute. The post-holder will work within a programme focussed on identifying the immunological mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis, with a focus on the modulation of the adaptive immune response and especially regulatory T cells using low-dose interleukin-2. The post-holder will be working with tissues taken from clinical trials and will be using single-cell RNA sequencing techniques, spatial transcriptomics, and cell culture.

The successful applicant will possess a PhD in a relevant subject such as biological science, ideally have post-doctoral experience, and have “hands-on” experience of the isolation and culture of primary immune cells, preparing and analysing tissue and blood samples using flow cytometry and single-cell genomic techniques, and other standard laboratory techniques, and possess excellent communication (written and verbal), with team-working skills. Experience in in vivo pre-clinical studies and expertise in bioinformatic analysis of single-cell data would be of strongly favoured. Candidates must have a track record of research achievement, including peer-reviewed publications.

The candidate will be expected to undertake research in the area of practical and reliable oxide thin film materials which display resistive switching effects, aimed at either non-volatile memory or neuromorphic computing or both. The successful applicant will be expected to undertake experimental research in a team environment, working under the supervision of Prof Driscoll. The candidate will undertake thin film growth by high specification sputtering, and will undertake materials characterisation by a wide range of methods (i.e. X-ray, XPS, ion beam analysis, electron microscopy (in particular, TEM and electron diffraction), AFM, PFM, ferroelectric and electrical measurement methods), and will undertake electrical device fabrication and testing. The candidate needs to be highly self-motivated and will be the manager of the advanced oxide sputtering system. The candidate will also have demonstrated independence of research with solid experience in the aforementioned methods and with equipment management and training.

Other responsibilities include: Liaising with colleagues from different disciplines, both in the UK and abroad, work with researchers in the other departments both within Cambridge and outside on device fabrication and characterisation, collaborate with colleagues from different disciplines both inside and outside the University, both in the UK and abroad, co-ordinating activities with industry partners, as appropriate, analysing and interpreting the results of own research and generating original ideas based on outcomes, designing and conducing a coherent set of experiments and record their outcome, conducting literature and database searches, writing up results of own research, assisting in the organisation of conferences or other meetings, whether they be online or in-person, leading and contributing to the production of research reports and publications, presenting information on research progress and outcomes to internal and external contacts, both academic, and industrial.

 

(18) Postdoctoral Fellowship Position

Postdoc Fellowship Position summary/title: Research Associate (Fixed Term)

Deadline : 21 April 2024

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A position exists for a Post-Graduate Research Assistant (PGRA) or Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics to work on verified algorithms for infinite-dimensional spectra, control, and data science with Dr. Matthew Colbrook to start in October 2024 or earlier/later by negotiation.

The successful candidate will work on developing robust numerical methods for infinite-dimensional spectral computations and data-driven control (broadly understood) under the project entitled “Verified data-driven algorithms for control and neural network training” funded by the Isaac Newton Trust.

Duties include developing and conducting individual and collaborative research objectives, proposals, and projects. The role holder will be expected to plan and manage their own research and administration, with guidance if required, and to assist in the preparation of proposals and applications to external bodies. You must be able to communicate material of a technical nature and be able to build internal and external contacts. You may be asked to assist in the supervision of student projects, the development of student research skills, and plan/deliver seminars relating to the research area. Full travel support to attend international conferences and seminars will be provided.

We invite applications for a Post-Doctoral Research Assistant/Associate (PDRA) with expertise in the general field of mineral magnetism and/or prebiotic chemistry. The post is funded through the Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe (https://www.lclu.cam.ac.uk/) at the University of Cambridge as part of the project “Can magnetite induce homochirality under prebiotically-relevant conditions?”. Recent experiments have shown that large, smooth surfaces of magnetite (Fe3O4) are extremely efficient at selecting the correct handedness of prebiotic molecules when exposed to a high laboratory magnetic field. This project seeks to answer the critical question of whether this selectivity also operates in clusters of small particles of magnetite exposed to much weaker magnetic fields, i.e. under conditions much closer to those that were likely present on the early Earth or Mars.

The successful candidate will be hosted by the Department of Earth Sciences under the guidance of Prof. Richard Harrison, Prof. Emilie Ringe and Prof. Nick Tosca, as well as collaborators from Harvard. The post-holder will have access to outstanding laboratory, magnetic characterisation, electron microscopy, and computational facilities.

Applicants must have (or be about to obtain), a PhD in a relevant scientific discipline. Applicants should have experience of at least one of the following: 1) bulk rock magnetic characterisation methods, 2) aqueous organic/materials synthesis, 3) 3D nanoscale imaging using STEM or FIB tomography, and 4) micromagnetic simulations. The successful candidate will be highly motivated, have a strong publication record (commensurate with their career stage) and good communication skills.

We are looking for an adventurous researcher to explore Monte Carlo methods for radiation transport (as part of the EPSRC grant, MaThRad). The Cambridge Nuclear Energy group is developing a modern, modifiable radiation transport code, SCONE. We are looking for software developers/researchers with experience of implementing physical models who are keen to understand radiation transport and Monte Carlo code development. The ideal candidate will work within a team to improve SCONE whilst also contributing ideas to expand the application of Monte Carlo methods.

Areas of interest include Monte Carlo applied to reactor multi-physics (static and dynamic), radiation shielding and variance reduction, medical physics and charged particle transport, and algorithmic acceleration techniques. Researchers will have significant freedom in deciding their preferred direction.

The successful applicant will employ a range of biophysical approaches including zeta potential measurements, biomolecular self-assembly, and time-resolved spectroscopy for the characterisation and control of bioenergetics within protocells. They will be expected to work productively with multi-disciplinary teams.

Applicants should have (or be about to obtain) a PhD in chemistry, (bio)physics, or related disciplines. It is essential that the applicant can demonstrate expertise in biophysical techniques, with experience in biomolecular assembly (for example in membrane formation) or time-resolved spectroscopy highly desirable. The successful candidate will have a keen interest in biophysics and its application to green biotechnology, and enjoy working in an interdisciplinary environment.

The successful applicant will explore a range of engineering approaches including aerosol jet printing, extrusion printing, ink/hydrogel formation and materials synthesis for fabricating electrodes with diverse properties. They will be expected to establish methodologies to increase throughput of electrode fabrication or electrochemical screening, use 3D drawing software such as AutoCAD, and be familiar with scanning electron microscopy and other common material visualisation/characterisation techniques.

Applicants should have (or be about to obtain) a PhD in materials chemistry, chemistry, chemical or material engineering or related disciplines. It is essential that the applicant can demonstrate expertise within the field of engineering or materials chemistry, with experience in electrochemistry and electrode array development being desirable. The successful candidate will have a keen interest in material chemistry and its application to biotechnology, and enjoy working in a multi-disciplinary environment.

The Cambridge Centre for Gallium Nitride, a part of the University of Cambridge’s Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, is at the forefront of nitride research and leads the nitride activity within the EPSRC National Epitaxy Facility.

A talented and creative postdoctoral researcher is seeking to work in the Cambridge Centre for Gallium Nitride, performing growth of nitride materials and devices for applications in power electronics and characterising the resulting materials. The Cambridge Centre for Gallium Nitride is part of the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy at the University of Cambridge and also leads the nitride activity within the EPSRC National Epitaxy Facility.

This post is available under the UltrAlGaN Programme Grant (EPSRC) in collaboration with the University of Bristol and other partners. The broad objective of the Programme is the development of high-performance AlGaN solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs). In this context, the successful candidate will contribute to research on the growth of aluminium and nitrogen-polar AlGaN, the growth of graded AlGaN layers, the regrowth of AlGaN, the growth on bulk AlN substrates, and the realisation of new doping concepts in AlGaN, in particular polarisation doping. The project team also includes the capability for growth by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and the successful candidate will exhibit enthusiasm for collaboration across the two growth technologies to achieve optimised materials. The role may also present the opportunity for basic device fabrication to facilitate epitaxy characterisation, and hence experience of device fabrication is desirable.

The Rayner and Deane Laboratories at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research are recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on a project that explores the function of a multi-gene family that is expanded in the genomes of Plasmodium Vivax and other related neglected human malaria parasites. The project builds on a recent publication that established that these tryptophan-rich antigens (TRAgs) have lipid binding activity (PMID: 37709739). It will expand on these initial findings using CRISPR/Cas9 genetic modification to knockout and tag multiple TRAg genes in Plasmodium Knowlesi and explore their function using a range of cell biological and biochemical assays.

To hit the ground running the successful candidate will need hands-on and demonstrable experience in culturing and transfecting Plasmodium parasites, preferably specifically Plasmodium Knowlesi. You will also have extensive experience in using molecular biology techniques (e.g. Gibson Assembly) to generate and validate complex genetic manipulation vectors, as well as in relevant cell biology techniques such as advanced microscopy and flow cytometry. There is also the potential to be involved in more biochemical focussed work, including recombinant protein expression and crystallography, if that is of interest. Your primary focus will be on carrying out outstanding academic research leading to impactful papers, providing substantial scope for innovation, creativity and scientific judgement. You will work as part of a vibrant interdisciplinary team and in close collaboration with colleagues in both the Rayner and Deane Laboratories in the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research. You are expected to contribute to the collaborative team environment, supporting and training others where needed, and you will present your work regularly at both internal and external academic events. The role has the potential to be a key stepping stone in a research career and multiple career development and support opportunities are available.

Applicants must have (or be about to receive) a PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related subject. The ideal candidate will have experience in code development and/or use of first principles methods (e.g. DFT, GW, BSE, DMFT). Applicants must also have a strong track record of publications in computational condensed matter and materials science, excellent communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively in a team of scientists with different backgrounds, and a willingness to take a leading role in the supervision of junior group members.

The successful candidate will be part of a thriving community of computational materials scientists as part of the Materials Theory Group in the Department of Materials and as part of the Lennard-Jones Centre in the wider University of Cambridge. Similarly, the successful candidate will benefit from multiple collaborations with local and international experimental teams.

The work will be pursued at the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute. This new building provides an exceptional and stimulating environment that promotes collaborative and interdisciplinary research, and is housed on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus alongside the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute.

Relevant research experience in myocardial infarction animal models, primary cardiomyocyte culture, and cardiomyocyte physiology is desirable. Candidates should have a PhD in a relevant discipline and have a capacity to apply initiative and creativity to solve biological problems.

Applicants will be expected to work closely and interactively with colleagues in different disciplines within the lab, and have good communications skills.

A principal research associate position is available working on a collaborative project to develop diagnostic and prognostic tools for coronary artery disease, as part of a multi-disciplinary British Heart Foundation Translational Grant led by Professor Martin Bennett at the Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, where the position will be based.

Cardiovascular disease is the largest cause of death worldwide, and new diagnostics and treatments are needed, particularly in those at highest risk. In collaboration with the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematics Sciences, Cambridge, we have developed an AI-based machine learning algorithm to analyse intracoronary images and identify high-risk patients, and assess the efficacy of drugs to prevent or treat disease. The principal research associate will work within a growing team of clinical and non-clinical scientists to further develop the tool for clinical use, focusing on image co-registration, segmentation and post-processing to generate outputs suitable for clinical decision making. We are particularly looking for candidates with substantial experience in machine learning and medical image processing for real-world problems. Experience with Python will be required.

A position exists for a Research Assistant/Associate at the Institute for Manufacturing, Department of Engineering, to work on foreign direct investment policy. In particular, how the structures and capabilities of national and regional industrial value chains and innovation systems can attract FDI; and how, in turn, FDI influences economic value creation and capture within these systems.

The RA will undertake independent and collaborative research under the guidance of Dr Eoin O’Sullivan (Centre for Science, Technology & Innovation Policy), in collaboration with Drs Guendalina Anzolin and Viktoria Doeme. The post holder will be located in West Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK.

The successful applicant will focus on the development of advanced methods to structure Li-Ion battery electrodes to increase their areal capacity and the overall energy density of the battery. Key responsibilities of the candidate include the design and fabrication of electrodes as well as electrochemical testing of their performance. This project focusses on processes that are compatible with roll-to-roll coating to ensure industrial relevance.

We will consider candidates with various research backgrounds including engineering, chemistry and material science. Applicants are required to have a PhD or be close to obtaining a PhD and have relevant experience in some of the following areas: battery fabrication and electrochemical testing, electrode coating and/or structuring. Experience in battery material synthesis, roll-to-roll processing and operando characterisation methods is an advantage, but is not required.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.

Applications are invited for a part-time Research Assistant/Associate in the Department of Engineering, to work on the development of a new lithography and laser processing techniques to develop lithographic processes to integrate nanomaterials in MEMS devices. The post holder will be located at the University of Cambridge in the group of Prof. Michael De Volder (www.nanomanufacturing.eng.cam.ac.uk/).

Carbon nanotubes as well as other nanoparticles offer attractive mechanical and electrical properties. In order to integrate these nanomaterials in practical applications we need to develop new manufacturing processes that allow to structure thousands of nanoparticles in controlled superstructures. In this project, we will build on lithographic and laser processing to control the morphology of nanomaterials at multiple lengthscales and improve their performance in MEMS devices. This project requires knowledge of lithography and/or laser processing and/or CNT synthesis.

This position is a 20% part-time job for 24 months in first instance. Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.