Job reference: SAE-032125
Salary: £37,694 - £46,049 per annum depending on experience
Faculty/Organisational Unit: Science and Engineering
Location: Oxford Road
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Department of Physics & Astronomy
Hours Per Week: 35 hours per week (1 FTE)
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 31/08/2026
Contract Duration: Fixed term for 36 months
School/Directorate: School of Natural Sciences

Job Description



Research Associate in Fabrication and Investigation of Nanofluidic and Proton-Conducting Devices

This is an opportunity for talented researchers in experimental materials science and/or condensed matter physics to create new nanoscale capillaries and devices based on assembly of atomically-flat crystals and study molecular and ion transport through them. The post is available immediately for up to 36 months and is based at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, a world-class science centre with a broad scope of research.

You will be responsible for:

  • Adhering to all relevant health and safety procedures.
  • Maintaining accurate, comprehensive and secure records of research data.
  • Training students and others in skills appropriate to the project.
  • Preparation of research papers for publication.
  • Presentations at national and international meetings.

About You

Essential Criteria

  • Applicants should hold or be close to acquiring a PhD in materials science, condensed matter physics or equivalent
  • A strong publication record in internationally peer-reviewed journals and an ability to write scientific reports and contribute to writing research papers.
  • Experience in the following is required: fabrication of nanoscale devices, preferably using atomically thin materials; their characterisation; photolithography and e-beam lithography; thin-film deposition; wet and reactive ion etching; SEM and AFM characterisation.
  • Ability to work collaboratively within a group and, also, to work independently, with minimal supervision.
  • Good written and oral communication skills, including communicating technical information effectively, proven by a strong publication record.

Desirable Criteria

  • Previous postdoctoral experience would be an advantage.
  • Experience of working in a cross-disciplinary environment.
  • Development of fabrication technologies for low-dimensional materials such as graphene.

Our benefits include:

  • Generous employer contribution pension
  • 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
  • Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Sarah Watson

Email Address: sarah.watson@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries and administrative support

recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical and job portal support

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

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

Further particulars (with person specification) linked below.



Take a look around the company https://www.manchester.ac.uk/