PDRA in Polymer Chemistry for Structural Power in North East

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

The Department of Engineering is consistently one of the very best UK engineering departments with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. The Department is ranked 6th in the Guardian University Guide and 7th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 in the UK for General Engineering. Ranked in the top six in the UK for overall profile in REF 2021 (with 95% of publications rated as 4* and 3*), this dynamic Department is an excellent place to work.

The strategic vision for the Department includes a growth plan of over 50% over the next five years, with a significant enhancement of the research challenge portfolio and a drive to enrich our undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research provision. It is an exciting time to join this expanding Department and make your mark. The Department holds an Athena SWAN Silver Award, recognising our commitment to diversity in STEM academic and reflecting the supportive and positive environment within the Department.

Applications are invited for a post-doctoral Research Associate to work in the Materials Research Group of the Department of Engineering at Durham University in close collaboration with the Department of Chemistry. The successful candidate will join a dynamic, multidisciplinary research group committed to excellence, working on an EPSRC funded “Electrical Composites” (EleComp), a five-year EPSRC Programme Grant involving eleven academics from Imperial College London, University of Bristol and Durham University.

The successful applicant will work within a multidisciplinary team of electrochemists, material scientists, composite engineers, anthropologists and sustainability experts on structural power composites (SPCs). These transformative materials can do two things at once: store electrical energy whilst carrying mechanical loads. SPCs have been heralded by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as one of the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025, which recognised their potential to fundamentally reshape how infrastructure, aerospace, automotive, and electronic products are designed and manufactured.

By simultaneously delivering lightweight and efficient energy storage, these materials will provide huge weight and volume savings. They will offer tremendous design freedoms, delivering products that just can’t be achieved with conventional batteries. The EleComp team will meet the overarching scientific, engineering and societal goals required to realise Electric Composites. Pursuit of these goals will be directed by new Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) tools that include an anthropological perspective; a unique approach to responsible and inclusive engineering and material science.

As well as working directly with the pioneers and international leaders in SPCs, you will closely interact with a broad international academic, policy and industrial network. EleComp will provide you with an inspirational and supportive research environment to cross‑fertilise ideas and develop new multidisciplinary skills. With SPCs having garnered considerable public, academic and industrial interest, this is an opportunity for you to contribute to unveiling an Electric Composites future that will impact future generations and profoundly affect everybody’s lives.

To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications. To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include research sponsors, academic and non‑academic audiences. To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant‑holder.

To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals. To conduct individual and collaborative research under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant‑holder. To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant‑holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio. To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant‑holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.

To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration. To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects. To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate. To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students. To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.

This post is initially advertised on a fixed term basis for two years with the possibility to extend up to a five‑year period, subject to performance. The post is subject to standard probationary terms. Further information will be issued in the contract of employment. The post-holder is employed to work on a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols. Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post in September 2026 or as soon as possible.

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: You’ll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year. We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).

No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost‑effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand‑new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance.

We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities. We provide wide‑ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state‑of‑the‑art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24‑7 Employee Assistance Programme.

Our on‑site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5‑16. Our family‑friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers). We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community. You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions. Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.

If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest‑free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under‑represented in our workforce, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups. If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application.

The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Leader status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.