Postdoctoral Research Associate in Computational and Theoretical Chemistry

Working at Durham College  

A globally excellent centre of instructing and analysis excellence, a heat and pleasant place to work, a novel and historic setting – Durham is a college like no different.

As one of many UK’s main universities, Durham is an unbelievable place to outline your profession. The College is positioned inside a gorgeous historic metropolis, dwelling to a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, and surrounded by gorgeous countryside. Our gifted students and researchers from all over the world are tackling world points and making a distinction to folks’s lives.  

We consider that inspiring our folks to do excellent issues at Durham permits Durham folks to do excellent issues on the planet. Being part of Durham is about extra than simply the success of the College, it’s additionally about contributing to the success of the town, county and group.

Our College Technique is constructed on three pillars of analysis, training and wider pupil expertise, but additionally on our eager sense of group and of inspiring others to realize their potential. 

Our Objective and Values

We wish our College to be a spot the place folks might be free to be themselves, it doesn’t matter what their identification or background. Collectively, we have fun distinction, worth each other and are every liable for creating an inclusive group that’s respectful and truthful for all.

Discover out extra about the advantages of working on the College and what it’s wish to reside and work within the Durham space on our Why Durham? data web page.   

The Function and Division

A World High 100 division, the Division of Chemistry at Durham is likely one of the perfect within the UK, with an impressive status for excellence in analysis, instructing and employability of our college students. We’re an energetic and vibrant division, with a powerful cohort of early profession teachers and future leaders. We maintain an Athena Swan Silver Award, recognising our dedication to gender equality.

The Function

Functions are invited for a Postdoctoral Analysis Affiliate in Computational and Theoretical Chemistry with a specific emphasis on the statistical mechanics of liquid-solid interfaces. The profitable candidate will work within the group of Dr Stephen Cox and the broad goals of the mission are to elucidate the construction and dynamics of advanced liquid-solid interfaces at a theoretical stage. The principle standards for the function are a powerful monitor file in world-leading analysis commensurate with applicant’s expertise, together with a PhD in computational chemistry or associated topic. Expertise in molecular simulations (i.e., molecular dynamics and/or Monte Carlo strategies) or liquid state concept (e.g., classical density practical concept) is very fascinating. Potential subjects of analysis embody:

• Understanding the dynamics of cost/discharge processes in electrolyte and ionic liquid programs [see, e.g., Pireddu et al., doi: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2023-2ccrw].
• Understanding how the answer atmosphere impacts crystal morphology, with an emphasis of polar crystal surfaces [see, e.g., Sayer & Cox, JCP 153, 164709 (2020)].
• Growing new theoretical approaches to effectively describe solvation forces [see, e.g., Bui & Cox, arXiv:2402.02873]

The profitable applicant will probably be anticipated to work each independently and a part of a staff, and have glorious communication organisational and problem-solving expertise.

Key obligations

• To know and convey materials of a specialist or extremely technical nature to the staff or group of individuals by way of displays and discussions that results in the presentation of analysis papers in conferences and publications.
• To organize and ship displays on analysis outputs/actions to audiences which can embody: analysis sponsors, educational and non-academic audiences.
• To publish top quality outputs, together with papers for submission to look reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops below the path of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To help with the event of analysis aims and proposals.
• To conduct particular person and collaborative analysis initiatives below the path of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and different colleagues within the analysis group, as applicable, to determine areas for analysis, develop new analysis strategies and prolong the analysis portfolio.
• To take care of issues that will have an effect on the achievement of analysis aims and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and providing artistic or revolutionary options.
• To liaise with analysis colleagues and make inner and exterior contacts to develop information and understanding to kind relationships for future analysis collaboration.
• To plan and handle personal analysis exercise, analysis sources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of analysis initiatives.
• To ship coaching in analysis methods/approaches to friends, guests and college students as applicable.
• To be concerned in pupil supervision, as applicable, and help with the evaluation of the information of scholars.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working atmosphere which is inclusive and welcoming and the place everyone seems to be handled pretty with dignity and respect.
• To interact in wider citizenship to assist the division and wider self-discipline.
• To interact in persevering with skilled growth by participation within the undergraduate or postgraduate instructing programmes or by membership of departmental committees, and many others. and by attending related coaching and growth programs.   

This publish is mounted time period, with as much as 24 months of funding accessible that ends on 30/09/2026. The earliest doable begin date is 02/09/2024.

The post-holder is employed to work on analysis/a analysis mission which will probably be led by one other colleague. While which means that the post-holder is not going to be finishing up unbiased analysis in his/her personal proper, the expectation is that they’ll contribute to the development of the mission, by way of the event of their very own analysis concepts/adaptation and growth of analysis protocols.

Profitable candidates will, ideally, be in publish by 1st October 2024.

Working at Durham 

A aggressive wage is just one a part of the various improbable advantages you’ll obtain in the event you be a part of the College: additionally, you will obtain entry to the next improbable advantages:

• 30 Days annual go away per 12 months along with 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per 12 months – a complete of 42 days per 12 months.  
• The College closes between Christmas and New Yr.
• We provide a beneficiant pension scheme, As a brand new member of workers you’ll be robotically enrolled  into the College Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• Regardless of the way you journey to work, we’ve you coated.  We now have parking throughout campus, a cycle to work scheme which lets you purchase a motorcycle and low cost with native bus and practice corporations.
• There’s a real dedication to growing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There’s a complete vary of growth programs, apprenticeships and entry to {qualifications} and routes to develop your profession within the College.  All workers have devoted annual time to focus on their private growth alternatives.
• A lot of assist for well being and wellbeing together with discounted membership for our cutting-edge sport and fitness center services and entry to a 24-7 Worker Help Programme.
• On web site nursery is offered and kids’s golf equipment in the summertime holidays.
• Household pleasant insurance policies, together with maternity and adoption go away, that are among the many most beneficiant within the increased training sector (and certain above and past many employers).
• The chance to participate in workers volunteering actions to make a distinction in the area people.
• Reductions can be found by way of our advantages portal together with; cash off at supermarkets, excessive road retailers, IT merchandise comparable to Apple, the cinema and days out at varied points of interest.
• A wage sacrifice scheme can be accessible that can assist you reap the benefits of tax financial savings on advantages.
• In case you are transferring to Durham, we might help with removing prices and we’ve a devoted staff who might help you with the practicalities comparable to home searching and faculties.  When you want a visa, we cowl most visa prices and supply an curiosity free mortgage scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Durham College is dedicated to equality, variety and inclusion

Equality, variety, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the College’s Technique and a central a part of all the things we do.  We additionally reside by our Objective and Values  and our Employees Code of Conduct.   At Durham we actively work in direction of offering an atmosphere the place our workers and college students can examine, work and reside in a group which is supportive and inclusive. It’s vital to us that each one colleagues undertake actions which might be aligned to each our values and dedication to EDI. 

We welcome and encourage functions from those that are at present under-represented in our work pressure, together with folks with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic teams.

You probably have taken a profession break or durations of go away that will have impacted on the amount and recency of your analysis outputs and different actions, comparable to maternity, adoption or parental go away, chances are you’ll want to disclose this in your software. The choice committee will take this under consideration when evaluating your software.

The College has been awarded the Incapacity Assured Employer standing. In case you are a candidate with a incapacity, we’re dedicated to making sure truthful remedy all through the recruitment course of. We are going to make changes to assist the interview course of wherever it’s affordable to take action and, the place profitable, affordable changes will probably be made to assist folks inside their function. 

Contact Data 

Division contact for academic-related enquiries 

Please contact Prof Jan Verlet [email protected] with any questions, nonetheless please notice that Dr Steve Cox would be the line supervisor for this function.

Contact data for technical difficulties when submitting your software 

When you encounter technical difficulties when utilizing the web software kind, we choose you ship enquiries by electronic mail.  Please ship your title together with a temporary description of the issue you’re experiencing to [email protected]  

Alternatively, chances are you’ll name 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outdoors the UK. This quantity operates in the course of the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time.  We are going to usually reply inside one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).  

College contact for basic queries in regards to the recruitment course of 

You probably have any queries in regards to the recruitment course of, please contact the recruitment staff on [email protected]. 

How you can Apply  

To progress to the evaluation stage, candidates should proof every of the important standards required for the function within the individual specification under. It will likely be on the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether or not they will even contemplate any fascinating standards, however we might urge candidates to supply proof for all standards.  

Whereas some standards will probably be thought-about on the shortlisting stage, different standards could also be thought-about later within the evaluation course of, comparable to questions at interview.  

Submitting your software 

We choose to obtain functions on-line.   We are going to replace you about your software at varied factors all through the choice course of, by way of automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please test your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you haven’t missed any of our updates.

What to Submit 

All candidates are requested to submit: 

• a CV and canopy letter which particulars your expertise, expertise, and achievements in assembly (or the potential to fulfill) the factors set out under.
• Names and get in touch with particulars of two educational referees who might be contacted. 

Subsequent Steps

The evaluation for the publish will usually embody a presentation to workers and college students within the Division adopted by an interview, and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will happen round April/Could 2024.

Please notice that in submitting your software Durham College will probably be processing your knowledge. We might ask you to think about the related College Privateness Assertion https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/ which gives data on the collation, storing and use of information.   

When appointing to this function the College should be sure that it meets any relevant immigration necessities, together with wage thresholds that are relevant to some visas.

Individual Specification

Important Standards:

{Qualifications}

1. A superb first diploma in chemistry or associated self-discipline

2. A PhD (or be near submission) in chemistry or a associated topic.

Expertise

3. Expertise in conducting top quality educational analysis. 

4. Demonstrable capacity to write down materials of a top quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals.

5. Demonstrable capacity to current analysis papers at nationwide/worldwide conferences and talk advanced data to specialists and throughout the wider educational group.

6. Expertise in computational and theoretical chemistry.

7. Sturdy publication file in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of profession.

8.  A monitor file of presenting analysis at conferences, symposia, or conferences, commensurate with stage of profession. 

9. Demonstrable capacity to develop analysis proposals and designs in collaboration with different teachers.

Abilities

10. Demonstrable capacity to work cooperatively as a part of a staff, together with taking part in analysis conferences.

11. Skill to work independently on personal initiative and to strict deadlines.

12. Glorious interpersonal and communication expertise.

13. Demonstrable capacity to plan and handle unbiased analysis. 

Fascinating Standards 

Expertise

14. Expertise of overseeing college students with respect to the event of their sensible/analysis expertise e.g. performing as a demonstrator; supervising pupil initiatives/practicals. 

15. Expertise in molecular simulations (molecular dynamics and/or Monte Carlo strategies) or liquid state concept (e.g., classical density practical concept).