Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job title:

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Company

University of Edinburgh

Job description

Job Description:The Opportunity:We seek applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the field of skin barrier biophysics, lipid organisation, membrane templating, and multilamellar self-assembly. The successful candidate will join the research group led by Professors David Moore and Wilson Poon at the Institute for Condensed Matter and Complex Systems (ICMCS) at the University of Edinburgh.The research goal of this position is to advance our understanding of extracellular lipid assembly and organisation in the outer epidermis, specifically the lipid templating processes that drive the formation and organisation of lipid lamellae in the stratum corneum (SC).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.This post is fixed term for 1 year with an anticipated start date of 1st March 2025.The salary for this post is UE07 £40,247 to £47,874 per annum.Your skills and attributes for success:

• PhD (or near completion) in Soft Matter Physics, Physical Chemistry or Biophysics

• Relevant research experience in lipid templating, colloid supported bilayers, biophysical microscopy techniques, chemical synthesis, soft lithography

• Record of high-quality lead-author and co-authored refereed journal publications (relative to career stage).

• Capable of working independently, exercising a high degree of initiative, and with the ability to think creatively

• Good timekeeping and time-management, with effective prioritisation of tasks.

• Ability to communicate complex information clearly, orally and in writing.

Click to view a copy of the fullApplication InformationPlease ensure you include the following documents in your application:– CV– A research proposal (2 pages)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

(opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefitsChampioning equality, diversity and inclusionThe 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.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.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 (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 dependant 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 noteThe closing date for applications is 30 January 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.About Us: As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.About the Team:ICMCS deals with the emergent behaviour from many interacting objects. The traditional application of this is to Condensed matter physics (CMP), which is concerned with the study of liquids and solids, and ‘viscoelastic’ materials (such as polymers and suspensions) with properties in between. In essence, condensed matter physics is about discovering and characterising the behaviour of these materials in the laboratory, and understanding such behaviour in terms of the microscopic constituents (atoms, molecules, colloidal particle, etc.). Experimentally, the determination of structure, and the characterisation of static and dynamic optical, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, high pressure and other properties calls upon a very wide range of tools. To gain conceptual understanding of phenomena uncovered in the laboratory requires the methods of quantum, classical and statistical mechanics, applied both analytically and by computer simulations.We have special expertise in extreme conditions physics (high pressures, high magnetic field, low temperature), and in soft matter, unravelling the complex behaviour of suspensions and polymers. Finally, we are now applying the methods and results of CMP to the study of non-equilibrium complex systems. This includes biological systems which are, after all, specialised forms of condensed matter. It also includes evolving and social systems such as ecosystems, economics and linguistics.Applications of the Institute’s work are very broad, ranging from life on mars, through terrestrial ecosystems, materials for nuclear reactors, antimicrobial drugs, crystallography at extreme conditions, synthesis of superhard materials, liquid crystals, paints, shampoo to tomato ketchup. It is therefore not surprising that more physicists work in CMP than in perhaps any other single sub-discipline of physics.Further information can be viewed at https://www.ph.ed.ac.uk/icmcs

Expected salary

£40247 – 47874 per year

Location

Edinburgh – Midlothian

Job date

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 00:50:34 GMT

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