Research Associate

Research Associate

The University of Manchester - Science and Engineering - Department of Civil Engineering and Management

Location: Manchester
Salary: £37,694 to £46,049 per annum depending on experience
Hours: Full Time
Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 3rd June 2026
Closes: 15th June 2026
Job Ref: SAE-031538

Job reference: SAE-031538
Salary: £37,694 - £46,049 per annum depending on experience
Faculty/Organisational Unit: Science and Engineering
Location: Oxford Road
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Department of Civil Engineering and Management
Hours Per Week: 1 FTE
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 15/06/2026
Contract Duration: 6 months Fixed term from 1st October 2026 to 31st March 2027
School/Directorate: School of Engineering

The EB-MIND (Engineering Biology for Metal Recovery from Industrial Waste Streams) project aims to pioneer a novel approach for the biorecovery of platinum group metals (PGMs) from industrial effluents using advanced engineering biology techniques. This multidisciplinary project brings together experts from geomicrobiology, molecular biology, material science, catalysis, and life cycle assessment to develop scalable and sustainable biotechnologies for metal recovery.

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our team and lead the environmental impact and circularity assessment work package (WP4). This role will involve applying life cycle assessment (LCA) tools and developing a circular economy framework to evaluate the environmental sustainability and circularity of the EB-MIND processes. The successful candidate will work closely with industrial partners, including Johnson Matthey, to compare the environmental impacts of engineered biological processes against existing industrial practices.

The post-holder will be based within an interdisciplinary and collegiate team of researchers at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the Department of Civil Engineering and Management (University of Manchester). We are looking for a person with a passion for research and a demonstrable skill to work in a highly interdisciplinary environment. Aligned with the Tyndall Centre’s missions, you will contribute towards the research team’s efforts to conduct research with genuine impact on policy and practice, and to publish in the very highest quality journals (indicatively, these might be Nature Sustainability, Journal of Cleaner Production and Resource Conservation and Recycling). Flexible working arrangements will be considered.

More detailed information about the responsibilities of the post and selection criteria can be found in the ‘Further Particulars’ document attached at the bottom of this advert.

Our benefits include:
• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available