"Post-Doctoral Research Associate (Project Catalytic Plasmonics)"

Job id: 094187. Salary: £43,205 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 12 August 2024. Closing date: 21 August 2024.

Business unit: Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sci. Department: Physics.

Contact details: Professor Anatoly Zayats. a.zayats@kcl.ac.uk

Location: Strand Campus. Category: Research.

About us

The study of Physics at King's dates back to the foundation of the College in 1829. The Department has an illustrious history. The first Professor was the polymath Sir Charles Wheatstone and other former professors include James Clerk Maxwell, whose outstanding work unifying the equations of electromagnetism took place during his time at King’s. He also took the first colour photograph in that period. Later, the Department was home to several Nobel laureates: Appleton, Barkla, Richardson and Wilkins. The seminal x-ray crystallography work by Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin, which led to the discovery of the structure of DNA, took place in the Physics Department. More recently, in 2013, two alumni of the Department, Professor Peter Higgs FRS and Professor Michael Levitt FRS were honoured with the Nobel Prize for Physics and Chemistry, respectively.

The Department is currently undergoing significant growth with substantial investment in new appointments, research infrastructure and laboratory space refurbishment.  King’s College London is now embarking on a major new strategic investment in Science and Technology, and it is intended that the Department should grow further, both in staff and student numbers, over the next few years. The details of the current research in the Department can be found at www.kcl.ac.uk/physics.

About the role

We are seeking a researcher with previous experience in the fabrication, optical characterisation and chemical applications of chiral plasmonic nanoparticles. A successful candidate will be working on the EPSRC funded project Catalytic Plasmonics and will collaborate with the project partners at Imperial College London and UK Catalysis Hub. Furthermore, the role holder will be responsible for the supervision of PhD and MSc students working on the relevant topics with the project. It is an excellent opportunity for a researcher to further their skill set in a rapidly advancing field, as well as providing opportunities to manage and take responsibility for both research tasks and people. 

This is a full time (35 hours per week) role and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31/03/2025.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. PhD qualified in relevant subject area (or pending results)
2. Experience in experimental studies (fabrication, optical characterisation, reactivity) and modelling of chiral plasmonic nanoparticles
3. Ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing
4. Ability to work as a part of a team
5. Strong presentation and communication skills
6. Good attention to detail

Desirable criteria

1. Experience in COMSOL simulations
2. Experience in SEM/TEM 

Downloading a copy of our Job Description 

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click “Apply Now”. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6. 

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held in late August or early September.

We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.