Research Assistant / Research Associate (Fixed Term)

The BioNano Engineering group, headed by Dr. Ljiljana Fruk (fruk-lab.com), is looking for an outstanding postdoctoral research associate for a project focused on development of strategies to enable improved binding of natural plant-based pigments to cellulosic fibres. This position is funded by BBSRC Prosperity Partnership scheme awarded to Dr Fruk to work together with Dr, Tijmen Euser from Physics Department and Colorifix (https://colorifix.com ), a company specialised in development of engineering biology strategies for sustainable dyeing.

The BioNano Engineering group at UCAM is composed of 11 PhD students, 4 postdocs and number of visiting postgraduate and MPhil students of different profiles. The group exploits bioinspired strategies to develop new processes and materials to address ongoing health and sustainability challenges. Our interests are in design of new strategies to prepare bio-nano hybrid materials to be used both for medical and functional material design applications. It is expected that outcomes from this research will be published in top journals, and disseminated at international conferences, but will also have a huge practical impact in creating more sustainable textile dyeing processes.

Working closely with Colorifix also means that the postdoctoral researcher will spend time adapting the lab-based processes to industrial scale with the help of Colorifix scientists. The role holder will be expected to interact with industry collaborators and disseminate results regularly across the involved research teams, delivering presentations, seminars and occasional talks when required at national and international conferences. To publish papers on the research project and present results at national and international conferences. It is expected that there will be IP generated on a project.

The successful candidate will have a PhD, or studying towards a PhD, in organic/surface or materials chemistry with strong background in analytical strategies to explore surface modifications, in particular Raman scattering, AFM, IR. The ability to work both as part of a team, and independently, coupled with excellent communication, organisational and problem-solving skills are essential to this role. Experience with Raman scattering strategies or AFM is welcome, as well as the working knowledge of synthetic biology, but it is not the requirement. More information on the role and person specification is available on the Further Particulars attached.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD; those without a PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level. 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.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 14 November 2026 in the first instance.

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You need to upload two CVs (Curriculum Vitae) in different formats: a Narrative CV and your standard CV (full details in the Further Particulars). This vacancy is real. In addition, this vacancy is being studied as part of the Action Research on Research Culture project (ARRC) https://www.arrc.group.cam.ac.uk/ .

The ARRC team are investigating the effects of CV format on shortlisting. If you consent to take part in the study the ARRC team will use information from the shortlisting process to understand the impact of different CV formats. The recruiting academic will not be told whether you have joined the study so your choice about whether to take part in the study cannot influence the decision on who to appoint. Further details can be found in the Further particulars and ARRC Participant Information Sheet attached. If you have questions about the ARRC project, please contact: [email protected] .

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Alessandra Uomo, HR Administrator, at [email protected] .

Closing date for applications is 18th January 2024.

Please quote reference NQ39946 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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