Research Assistant/Research Associate (ARIA) (Fixed Term)

Fixed-term: The Research Associate position is available from 1 September 2026 for 18 months in the first instance.

Applicants should have experience in laboratory automation in materials chemistry. Experience in building and operating automated or self-driving laboratory workflows is essential, including the integration and orchestration of robotic platforms for solution-based synthesis and characterisation. Candidates should have strong Python programming skills and experience in research data management, such as designing data pipelines and standardised data capture for high-throughput experiments.

Experience with hardware instrumentation is desirable, including developing automated setups that integrate synthesis, in-line or automated characterisation (e.g. UV-Vis, photoluminescence, dynamic light scattering, or X-ray scattering/diffraction), and property testing workflows. Familiarity with agentic AI systems, machine learning for experiment planning (e.g. Bayesian optimisation and active learning), and laboratory orchestration software is welcome, and candidates with an interest in combining experimental work with data-driven approaches are strongly encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute intellectually to research on autonomous experimentation, with a focus on developing robotic workflows for the high-throughput synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles on protein templates and the associated characterisation. They will lead the design of closed-loop experiments that connect robotics and real-time data management, and efforts to understand the materials assembly across length scales. They will also contribute to drafting scientific manuscripts, and support the day-to-day supervision of Master's and PhD students.

Applicants should hold a PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline. They should be committed to collaborative and interdisciplinary research and demonstrate the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. The successful candidate will work in the Autonomous Materials Group under the supervision of Dr Shijing Sun and collaborate across the ARIA project teams.

This job is part of an Advanced Research +Invention Agency-funded project, subject to contract negotiations, as a result funding for this position is only confirmed for 18 months at this time. Further details can be discussed at interview.

Successful candidates who have not yet received their PhD by 1st September 2026 will be employed on University Grade 5 SP038 as Research Assistants (£34,610). Upon being awarded their PhD, their salary will be upgraded to Grade 7 041 (£37,694) as Research Associates.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above. 

We encourage early applications, as the vacancy may close before the advertised deadline if a sufficient number of suitable applications are received.

Documents in support of applications should include a CV and a research statement.

Should you have any queries please reach out to ss896@cam.ac.uk with a copy to hrmsm@msm.cam.ac.uk and ajt69@cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference LJ50758 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.