Research Assistant (Fixed Term)

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

Applications are invited for a 3-year research assistant position based in the group of Prof. Alexander Forse in the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. The project will develop improved electrochemical energy storage devices known as supercapacitors.

Research in the Forse group centres around the development of new materials for climate change mitigation. This project will develop improved understanding of supercapacitor energy storage devices. The project builds on recent studies from the Forse group that showed the important role of electrode functional groups in determining capacitance. We will develop new characterisation methods for functional groups in carbon electrodes, for example using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and we will correlate their structures with electrochemical energy storage performance.

Day to day, the project will involve solid-state NMR and electrochemistry experiments, with options to also do computer simulation work. The successful applicant will benefit from access to state-of-the-art potentiostats, two solid-state NMR spectrometers, and wet-lab space.

Applicants should have or shortly expect to obtain a first or upper second-class degree from a UK university, or an equivalent standard from an overseas university, in a relevant subject such as chemistry. Practical experience of materials chemistry, or electrochemistry, or solid-state NMR spectroscopy would be beneficial, but is in no way essential. The successful candidate will be offered the opportunity of registering for a PhD degree.

We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested, and we are keen to see as many applications as possible from BAME applicants, women, applicants with diverse gender identities, and other under-represented groups. We encourage good work-life balance, and accommodate flexible working arrangements.

For informal queries please contact Prof Alex Forse (acf50@cam.ac.uk).

Please quote reference MA49846 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.