All current vacancies and studentships

A fully funded PhD at the University of Cambridge, under the supervision of Professor Alex Routh is available. It is in collaboration with a Dynamic Smart Glass manufacturer. Dynamic Smart Glass windows become opaque or clear in response to an external trigger. Example uses can be temperature modulation in cars through to maintaining a pleasant environment in a house.

To optimize the operation of such systems, we will examine the dynamics of colloidal particles in an applied electric field. The aim is to understand the resulting particle motion and accumulation under the electrodes. The project will be a combination of experimental rig design, construction and measurement as well as mathematical modelling. The exact balance of the project will be determined by the student's interests.

This studentship is only available for applicants who qualify for Home Fees and meet our minimum entry criteria: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egcepdcng/requirements

Suitable candidates will have a good undergraduate degree in either Chemistry, Physics, Applied Maths, Chemical Engineering or similar. Candidates should apply for admission for our PhD in Chemical Engineering via the above link and list Prof Alex Routh as the prospective supervisor and Vacancy Reference number NQ45098 in the research proposal field. For queries regarding the project, please contact Alex Routh (afr10@cam.ac.uk).

Please quote reference NQ45098 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

A fully funded 3.5 year Ph.D. studentship is available to UK nationals and outstanding international students, with Professors Lynn Gladden, Mick Mantle and Andy Sederman, to start 1 October 2025.

Porous materials are central to the production of fuels, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, clean water and gas storage. Depending on the product required, the porous materials are known as catalysts, sorbents, membranes etc., but they all have common characteristics in that their performance is determined, to differing extents, by their chemical composition and the size (typically of nanometre to micron dimensions) of the pores that they contain.

Surprisingly, we still know relatively little about how molecules behave when confined within the pores of these materials, and yet it is clear that the chemical composition of the materials as well as their pore size have very significant effects on their performance. Pores are small, with curved surfaces and the macroscopic material is almost always optically opaque. The group in Cambridge has developed a wide range of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods to understand how molecular adsorption and mobility, and the phase behaviour of mixtures of molecular species changes when moving from the bulk phase to the confined 'world' of a nanometre to micron scale pore. Importantly the magnetic resonance methods can be performed at the operating conditions at which the porous materials will be used so that we learn how the materials are really 'working'.

This project will apply these techniques to at least 3 materials thereby demonstrating this approach in application to at least one catalyst (sustainable methanol production/ sustainable aviation fuel), one inorganic adsorbent (direct air capture) and an organic membrane (carbon capture and utilization; pharmaceutical production). These methods will then be translated on to low field NMR technology such that they can then be used widely as a routine part of material design in university and industrial R&D laboratories.

Applicants can only be considered for this studentship if they meet the Department's entry criteria: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egcepdcng/requirements

To apply for these studentships, you will need to submit a formal application for our PhD in Chemical Engineering programme, which is available at the entry criteria page above. You will need to note Profs Lynn Gladden, Andy Sederman, and Mick Mantle as your prospective supervisor, and you will need to note vacancy reference number NQ45084 in the research proposal field. We are unable to consider late or incomplete applications.

Please quote reference NQ45084 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

A fully funded 3.5 year Ph.D. studentship is available to UK nationals and outstanding international students, with Professors Lynn Gladden, Mick Mantle and Andy Sederman, to start 1 October 2025.

Underground storage of carbon dioxide and hydrogen will play an important role in the energy transition and the delivery of net zero because the storage can be done at scale. However, the demands of underground carbon dioxide (UCS) and underground hydrogen storage (UHS) are very different. In the case of UCS, we need to store large quantities of carbon dioxide for the long term, whilst UHS requires the temporary storage of hydrogen through the seasons such that it can be recovered for use as an energy vector when needed. UCS is, of course, much more widely studied than UHS.

The aim of this project is to understand the micro-scale physical and chemical processes occurring in rocks when carbon dioxide and hydrogen are injected into them. The scientific challenge here is that a depleted hydrocarbon reservoir, where gas storage would take place, is very different from a pure synthetically made porous material. In addition to chemical and structural differences of different rock types, the pores into which the carbon dioxide or hydrogen is injected contain varying levels of sea-water and residual hydrocarbon. This is a very complex system, but if not studied including this complexity it is unlikely that relevant insights will be obtained.

The project will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), just as you would in a medical application, to see inside the rock and investigate how carbon dioxide and hydrogen move and become immobile within the rock. How do they interact with the internal surface of the rock? Do emulsions form within the rock? Do any chemical interactions occur? How are these characteristics changed by the rate at which the gas is injected? How does the brine, gas, residual hydrocarbon system evolve over time? The images we will acquire will provide unique datasets against which to validate numerical codes developed by our collaborators. The ambition is to be able to optimise selection of storage sites and the methods of injection such that carbon dioxide and hydrogen gases can be stored and accessed safely and effectively.

Applicants can only be considered for this studentship if they meet the Department's entry criteria: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egcepdcng/requirements

To apply for these studentships, you will need to submit a formal application for our PhD in Chemical Engineering programme, which is available at the entry criteria page above. You will need to note Profs Lynn Gladden, Andy Sederman, and Mick Mantle as your prospective supervisor, and you will need to note vacancy reference number NQ45087 in the research proposal field. We are unable to consider late or incomplete applications.

Please quote reference NQ45087 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

A fully funded 3.5 year Ph.D. studentship is available to UK nationals and outstanding international students, with Professors Lynn Gladden, Mick Mantle and Andy Sederman, to start 1 October 2025.

The transition to net zero is driving a new phase in the development of innovative catalysts and processes because the reactants required for these 'net zero' processes come from new sources, and the products of the reaction are required with increasingly high specifications. This project addresses Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) which is considered, if adopted in an environmentally responsible way, to have the potential to cut the greenhouse gas emissions of the aviation sector by up to 80% compared with traditional jet fuels (World Economic Forum) and can also be used as an energy vector where high energy density is required.

Fischer-Tropsch (FT) catalysis is one of the primary catalytic conversions used to produce SAF, using green hydrogen and biogenic or captured carbon dioxide. Magnetic resonance techniques are now sufficiently advanced that they can provide unique insights in to how a catalyst operates under reaction conditions. Whilst FT processes have existed for many years, the new feedstocks used in SAF as well as the new product specifications required mean that there is real need to re-design the catalysts and processes conditions to deliver carbon-neutral fuels and contribute to delivering net zero.

Our approach is to use new magnetic resonance methods developed in the group which allow us to understand how molecules move in and out of the catalyst, and how the reaction occurs inside the catalyst under reaction conditions, much like the way magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to study blood flow and the internal structure and behaviour of the human body. For applicants interested in learning and developing new skills in magnetic resonance imaging techniques applied to catalysis, there is much scope for building this interest into the project.

Applicants can only be considered for this studentship if they meet the Department's entry criteria: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egcepdcng/requirements

To apply for these studentships, you will need to submit a formal application for our PhD in Chemical Engineering programme, which is available at the entry criteria page above. You will need to note Profs Lynn Gladden, Andy Sederman, and Mick Mantle as your prospective supervisor, and you will need to note vacancy reference number NQ45075 in the research proposal field. We are unable to consider late or incomplete applications.

Please quote reference NQ45075 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and independent Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our growing research in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge.

This position offers an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underpinning genome assembly, viral replication, and evolution in RNA viruses with segmented genomes, with the ultimate goal of informing the development of antiviral strategies.

The successful candidate will participate in an exciting project funded by a Wellcome Discovery Award, which explores the roles of RNA structure, dynamics, and biomolecular condensates in viral life cycles.

Key Responsibilities will include:

1) Applying reverse genetics system to generate recombinant rotaviruses, and explore the functional consequences of mutations in key viral proteins that drive phase separation.

2) Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to integrate experimental data with computational approaches, including machine-learning tools, to investigate evolutionary conservation and phase separation phenomena.

3) Contribute to various research group activities, writing manuscripts, presenting at group meetings.

The PDRA is expected to carry out independent research on a day-to-day basis and develop new approaches under the guidance of an academic supervisor. In addition, cooperation with other lab members and assistance with the training of students within the research group is required.

Team work and clear communication are essential.

More information on the role is available on the Further Particulars attached.

Fixed-term: this is a short-term project with the funds for this post are available for 6 months in the first instance.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Mr Vito Candela, HR Administrator, at hr@ceb.cam.ac.uk.

Applications closing dates 13th of February 2025.

Please quote reference NQ44913 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

A position is open for a Postdoctoral Research Associate/Assistant as part of a recently established Sustainable Chemicals & Materials Manufacturing Hub (SCHEMA) funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences research council (EPSRC) (https://schemahub.ac.uk/hub).

The post-holder will join an exciting research and industrial community within the SCHEMA Hub, becoming a member of the Catalysis and Process Integration group led by Prof Laura Torrente (www.capi.ceb.cam.ac.uk).

The overall aim of the project is to accelerate the development of novel manufacturing routes for sustainable polymers by revealing kinetic and mechanistic understanding of polymerisation chemistries using flow systems to guide the design of efficient, tailored manufacturing routes.

The successful candidate will have a strong background in reaction engineering and inorganic chemistry, including a PhD in a relevant area. Experience in polymerization chemistries would be advantageous.

The ability to work both as part of a team and independently, coupled with excellent communication, organisational and problem-solving skills are required. The duties / responsibilities of this post include developing and driving research objectives, writing up work for presentation and publication, collaborating with academic and industrial partners, assisting in the supervision of student research projects, and delivering seminars and occasional talks as outlined on the Further Information document.

Applicants should provide a CV, including contact details of three referees and a covering letter describing their suitability for the role. For further information contact Prof Laura Torrente (lt416@cam.ac.uk)

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Mr Vito Candela, HR Administrator, at hr@ceb.cam.ac.uk.

Applications closing dates 24th of February 2025.

Please quote reference NQ44838 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

A PhD studentship funded by the W.D. Armstrong Trust Fund at the University of Cambridge is available for the project ''Optimising Thrombectomy Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke - Leveraging Clinical Imaging and Physics-Based Computational Modelling to Improve Care.'' This project will be co-supervised jointly by Dr Shelly Singh-Gryzbon and Dr Nicholas Evans, and it has a start date of 1 October 2025.

Additional Information: Funding will cover 3 years tuition fees with 3.5 years stipend at the UK rate. Non-UK applicants will be considered only if they can fund the overseas fees differential and can demonstrate that they have the funds to meet the difference in fees. (No further funding is available via the University.)

Background: Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and mortality, with an aggregated cost to the UK economy of £26bn per annum. Ischemic strokes account for around 85% of all strokes and occur when a blood clot blocks blood flow and oxygen supply to part of the brain. This blockage can lead to irreversible brain damage if the blood flow is not restored quickly. Mechanical thrombectomy is a minimally invasive (endovascular) procedure that involves the use of a retrieval device to capture and remove the clot from the affected blood vessel, thereby restoring cerebral blood flow. For eligible patients, thrombectomy can significantly reduce the extent of brain damage, resulting in improved chances of neurological recovery and reducing long-term disability. However, success rates vary and procedural complications such as vessel injury and perforation, hemorrhage, or secondary embolic events pose additional risks, particularly when multiple retrieval attempts (passes) are required. Currently, the underlying causes of clot retrieval failure remain poorly understood.

Objectives: In this project, we aim to improve outcomes in mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke by leveraging clinical imaging and computational modelling. A clinical registry from Addenbrooke's Hospital comprising of CT angiography and non-contrast CT brain images for ~250 stroke patients will be used to develop patient-specific 3D models and perform computational simulations to:

1.) identify biomechanical and hemodynamic factors associated with successful clot retrieval,

2.) discover mechanistic relationship underpinning clot-anatomy interactions leading to clot retrieval difficulty, and

3.) develop a predictive tool to assess thrombectomy success or complications based on patient-specific imaging data.

Requirements: Applicants should have a First Class undergraduate degree or equivalent degree in a relevant discipline such as chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related subject. For those who completed the undergraduate degree outside the UK, please check the international equivalency prior to applying: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/international-qualifications

Applicants with relevant research experience, gained through Master's study or while working, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants would also be expected to meet the Department's other standard entry criteria: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egcepdcng/requirements

How to Apply: Interested applicants must submit a formal application for admission to our PhD in Chemical Engineering with the supporting documents, indicating Dr Singh-Gryzbon as a prospective supervisor and noting vacancy reference number NQ44740 in the research proposal field. For further information about the application process, please see: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egcepdcng

Informal enquiries can be addressed to Dr Shelly Singh-Gryzbon, ss3127@cam.ac.uk or Dr Nicholas Evans, ne214@cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference NQ44740 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

We are seeking a highly organized, motivated, and enthusiastic Research Assistant to join our dynamic and collaborative research team in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research on the molecular biology of RNA viruses, with a focus on the mechanisms underlying genome assembly, viral replication, and biomolecular condensates.

The successful candidate will work alongside a multidisciplinary team of scientists, including postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, and international collaborators, to support groundbreaking studies aimed at understanding rotavirus biology and evolution.

Key Responsibilities will include:

• Providing technical and organizational support to research projects, including assisting with experiments related to RNA biology, molecular cloning, cell culture, microscopy.
• Preparing and maintaining stocks of reagents, consumables, and cell lines.
• Overseeing general lab operations, including equipment maintenance, inventory management, and compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Coordinating with team members to ensure smooth day-to-day lab operations and facilitating collaborative research activities.
• Keeping accurate records of lab resources, experimental workflows, and results to support the

This role offers an excellent opportunity for someone passionate about science and eager to support transformative research in RNA virus biology. Whether you are an experienced lab technician or a recent graduate looking to gain hands-on research experience, we encourage you to apply.

A flexible start date is available, but we are seeking to fill the position as soon as possible.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

If you have questions on the application process, please email Mrs Alessandra Uomo, HR Administrator, at hr@ceb.cam.ac.uk.

Closing date for applications is 23rd February 2025.

Interviews are likely to be held soon after the closing date.

Please quote reference NQ44609 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and independent Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our growing research in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge.

This position offers an exceptional opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underpinning genome assembly, viral replication, and evolution in RNA viruses with segmented genomes, with the ultimate goal of informing the development of antiviral strategies.

The successful candidate will participate in an exciting project funded by a Wellcome Discovery Award, which explores the roles of RNA structure, dynamics, and biomolecular condensates in viral life cycles. Our work seeks to revolutionise the understanding of how multi-segmented RNA viruses, such as RVs, selectively package their distinct RNA segments, form phase-separated replication factories, and evolve through reassortment.

Key Responsibilities will include:

• Virological characterisation of novel recombinant rotaviruses generated via reverse genetics approaches. These will include classical virological methods (growth kinetics, virus isolation and purification, negative stain electron microscopy and light microscopy).

• Applying RNA-focused methods such as RNA sequencing, including RNA-Seq data analyses (Oxford nanopore and Illumina-based sequencing) pipelines.

• Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to integrate experimental data with computational approaches, including machine-learning tools, to investigate the impact of RNA structural and RNA genome changes on viral replication and genome stability.

• Contribute to various research group activities, writing manuscripts, presenting at group meetings, national and international conferences.

The PDRA is expected to carry out independent research on a day-to-day basis and develop new approaches under the guidance of an academic supervisor. In addition, cooperation with other lab members and assistance with the training of students within the research group is required. Teamwork and clear communication are essential.

More information on the role is available on the Further Particulars attached.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Mr Vito Candela, HR Administrator, at hr@ceb.cam.ac.uk.

Applications closing dates 23rd of February 2025.

Please quote reference NQ44700 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.