"Postdoctoral Research Associate"

The Role

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in X-ray diffraction and the use of databases? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK's leading research-intensive universities?

We are looking for an outstanding Postdoctoral Research Associate to join a research project based in the groups of Prof. Aurora J. Cruz-Cabeza and Prof. John Evans. The project is part of a new £7m EPSRC funded Programme Grant that brings together a team of researchers from the universities of Durham, Leeds and Manchester investigating the formation of Molecular Solid Solutions (MoSS).

Solid solutions are created when atoms or ions of a dopant are incorporated within the crystal structure of a host. Even at minute quantities, this can significantly alter the properties of crystals. Although solid solutions in metals and inorganic materials are well-studied, little is known about systems where the host and dopants are small organic molecules (MoSS). There is huge potential of utilising MoSS for changing and modulating materials properties, such as solubilities, crystal polymorph, crystal sizes and shapes and rates of dissolution.

The overall goal of the consortium is to develop and apply cutting-edge techniques in crystal synthesis, characterisation and modelling to study and generate a new understanding of MoSS. These advances will have applications across multiple sectors, including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and food industries.

There are multiple opportunities to collaborate, take part in network events and undertake research placements within this project.

You will have a PhD in Physical Sciences or a closely related field, and you will have a background in X-ray diffraction. Knowledge of databases, crystallisation and other characterisation methods for molecular crystals is a must. The key responsibilities are to develop a database of MoSS, to study MoSS with various diffraction methods, to develop code to automate the characterisation of MoSS with diffraction and other methods. The successful candidate will be involved in the supervision of a PhD student during the duration of the position and will have significant opportunities for career development.