Job reference: SAI-029804
salary: £47,389 to £58,225 per annum depending on relevant experience
College/organizational unit: Science and engineering
location: Oxford Road
Employment Type: Specific term
Department/Team: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Hours per week: Full time
Closing date (dd/mm/yyyy): 11/05/2025
Contract duration: Starting November 2025 for 60 months
School/Directorate: College of Engineering

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Fellow within the newly established Pulutonium Ceramics Academic Center at the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield (PUMaS) funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

As a member of the PUMaS Hub, you will be based within state-of-the-art facilities at NFCE and the Henry Royce Institute, the UK’s center for advanced materials science, providing access to leading materials science and engineering technologies.

You will focus on powder processing, fabrication, characterization and radiation testing of mixed oxide ceramics using alternative and active materials, using dedicated glove box facilities. You will use advanced characterization techniques to link manufacturing processes to performance to support the development of waste form specifications, working closely with partners at the University of Sheffield on other ceramic waste form candidates.

You will also be a key member of the supervisory team of PhD student groups, supporting their training and development in technical and soft skills. In addition, you will also work closely with industry partners within the NDA and the wider NDA supply chain/group to build positive relationships and develop independent research projects with wider industrial and academic partners.

As this role involves research at graduate level, applicants who are not EEA nationals or nationals of an exempt country and who will need to be sponsored under the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) points-based skilled worker route in order to take up this role will be required to apply for and will need to obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before applying. Any formal application for a UKVI visa.

What you will get in return:

• A fantastic market leading pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and well-being services including an employee assistance program
• Entitlement to exceptional annual leave to start work, in addition to official holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applicants from all segments of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), race, disability, sexual orientation or transgender status. All appointments are made on the basis of merit.

Our university looks favorably on flexible working – you can find out more here

Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

Please note that due to the number of applications, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback on your application.

Please note that we are unable to respond to inquiries or accept CVs or applications from recruitment agencies.

Any employment inquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to People.Recruitment@manchester.ac.uk.

Any CV provided by the recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Inquiries about vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Dr. Robert Harrison

Email: rwharrison@manchester.ac.uk

General inquiries:

Email: people.recruitment@manchester.ac.uk

technical support:

01618502004 https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.