"Research Fellow"

Queen's University Belfast

About the job:

As a part of the 14CHRONO team, the research fellow will lead a programme of research and development into novel thermally-driven evolved gas analysis (EGA) molecular separation approaches for radiocarbon application. They will independently manage and drive the exploration and validation of improved/enhanced methods for the isolation of reliable molecular compounds/fractions for the radiocarbon dating of highly challenging contaminated and mixed component substrates/materials.

They will develop these approaches with a view to both archaeological and environmental applications, and as such contribute to both sustaining and enhancing 14CHRONO’s position as a world-class radiocarbon dating research facility. This innovative work will be closely coupled to and feed into the recently established Institute for Heritage and Environmental Sciences, RICHeS facility, at QU B, providing and unlocking ground-breaking capabilities/techniques for the radiocarbon dating of heritage science artefacts.

The fellow will draw upon their expertise to lead technical upgrades and testing of systems such as the ramped pyrolysis/combustion-IRMS, TG-MS, ATR-FTIR, and graphite lines in order to meet the programme goals/objectives. They will also advance internal and external research collaborations across a range of disciplines arising as a part of this work and be expected to develop and deliver high-quality research output and impact targets (e.g. high-quality publications, grant applications, impact and engagement exercises).

About the person:

The successful candidate must:

• Have or be about to obtain a PhD in Archaeology, Material Sciences or related discipline.
• Demonstrate technical expertise in molecular separation and characterisation approaches, particularly mass spectrometric methods.
• Be proficient in chemical and elemental analysis, isotope geochemistry and/or mass spectrometric methods.
• Be experienced in stable isotope application and analysis for radiocarbon dating.
• Demonstrate knowledge/practice with application of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) methods.
• Have experience in the technical and methodological development of analytical and sample pretreatment /preparation approaches.
• Proven ability to publish in nation-al/international journals (commensurate with stage of career).
• Be experienced in the computational analysis of multivariate chromato-graphic and mass spectrometric datasets.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information document on our website.