Research Fellow (104485-921)

Fixed term contract for 24 months, 36.5 hours per week.

The Departments of Physics and Chemistry seek to appoint three Research Fellows to work on the EPSRC/UKRI-funded Prosperity Partnership Project “Engineered Diamond Technologies”. This project involves a close collaboration between the University of Warwick (UW) and Element Six Ltd (E6), but also involves cooperation with other universities and companies. The programme of research and collaboration is split into three work packages (WPs). WP1 focusses on the synthesis and characterisation of diamond for exploitation in optical, thermal and quantum applications through advanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) synthesis routes. WP2 concentrates on the development of new approaches to electrochemical processing, functionalisation, and modification of diamond surfaces. In WP3 we will develop advanced micro- and nano-fabrication techniques, and in conjunction with the advances made in diamond materials and processing, produce proof-of-concept diamond-based quantum technology devices. The project outcomes will include new materials with improved and tailored properties, new science enabled by enhanced intrinsic properties, and the ability to manufacture innovative diamond devices. We are seeking to recruit:

• One Research Fellow to be based at the Element Six Global Innovation Centre on the Harwell Campus to work on developing new methods for CVD diamond synthesis and materials processing.
• One Research Fellow to be based at the University of Warwick (Chemistry) to develop and apply new electrochemical etching, chemical mechanical polishing, and electrochemical species generation methodologies for diamond.
• One Research Fellow to be based at the University of Warwick (Physics) to drive the development of micro- and nano-fabrication processes in order to produce, test, and benchmark diamond-based quantum technology demonstration devices.

The Research Fellows will collaborate with each other as well as the wider academic and industrial team at both UW and E6. Applicants should possess or be very close to obtaining a doctorate in physics, chemistry, engineering, material science or a related field and have a background appropriate for addressing the challenges described above. Good communication skills and inter-personal skills are essential. You must be capable of working within a broader research team, demonstrating excellent written and verbal communication skills, and maintaining a current knowledge of the academic literature and industrial exploitation landscape.

Interview dates to be confirmed.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to give a critical analysis of a research paper (provided in advance of the interview), a brief presentation on their own research including why they believe they are suitable for the post.

Please direct all informal inquiries to Dr Ben Green ([email protected] ), Professor Julie Macpherson ([email protected] ), Dr Gavin Morley ([email protected] ) or Dr Andrew Edmonds ([email protected] ).

If you have not yet been awarded your PhD but are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant on level 5 of the University grade structure (£30,497). Upon successful award of your PhD and evidence of this fact, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of the level 6 of the University grade structure (£31,406).

Full details of the duties and selection criteria for this role can be found in the vacancy advert on the University of Warwick's jobs pages. You will be routed to this when you click on the Apply button.