Postdoctoral Research Associate

Edinburgh - Kings Buildings, Midlothian, United Kingdom (100% On-campus)

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Job Info

• Job Identification 12604
• Locations James Clerk Maxwell Building, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, GB (100% On-campus)
• Organization Institute for Condensed Matter Physics and Complex Systems, Institute for Condensed Matter Physics and Complex Systems, Institute for Condensed Matter Physics and Complex Systems, Edinburgh University Group
• Department Institute for Condensed Matter Physics and Complex Systems
• Apply Before 06/30/2025, 10:59 PM
• Health and Safety Requirements No key hazards identified for this post
• Criminal Record Check No criminal record check required
• Contract Type Fixed Term
• Work Duration Months 18
• Job Schedule Full time
• Grade UE07
• Number of Openings 1
• Job Function Researcher

Job Description

The Opportunity: 

The candidate will contribute to the development of new mechanistic models aiming to dissect the as-yet-elusive link between 3D gene structure and function. The successful candidate will ideally have a good experience with polymer models and coarse-grained molecular simulations, and will have experience or willingness to engage with experimental collaborators in joint projects. The results obtained in this work can be used, among other things, to inform models of transcription in disease, and understand how mutations in chromatin-associated proteins or DNA elements associated with genetic diseases and cancers affect transcription. 

This post is full-time (35 hours per week); however, we are open to considering part-time or flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.  

The salary for this post is at Grade UE07: £40,497 to £48,149 per annum, pro-rata if part-time.

The post is fixed-term for 18 months, if appointed by 1st October 2025.

Your skills and attributes for success: 

• Experience in biological physics research, ideally in polymer physics.
• Strong computational expertise, ideally including coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations.
• Experience of, or willingness to engage in, interdisciplinary collaborative research combining physics and biology.
• Strong planning and management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Click to view a copy of the full job description (opens new browser tab).

Application Information 

Please ensure you include the following documents in your application:

• CV
• Cover letter

As a valued member of our team you can expect: 

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. 
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab).

Championing equality, diversity and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality. 

The School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce, and eliminating discrimination. The School strives to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace for all and we are looking to actively diversify our staff. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and in particular encourage applications from people of colour, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people and other minority and under-represented groups. We aim to ensure that our culture and systems support flexible and family-friendly working, as evidenced by our Juno Champion and Athena SWAN Silver awards.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab).

The University is able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. If successful, an international applicant requiring sponsorship to work in the UK will need to satisfy the UK Home Office’s English Language requirements and apply for and secure a Skilled Worker Visa. Please note if the role is offered on a part-time basis, it may result in sponsorship being dependent on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant or the role no longer meeting the Home Office’s criteria for sponsorship.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 30th June 2025.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone. 

Interviews will be held in late July or early August 2025.

About Us

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