Research Fellow in Microfluidics and Crystallization

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Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in microfluidics? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities?

We are looking for an outstanding Research Fellow to join the project “Dynamic Control of Mineralization”, which is funded under an ERC Advanced grant to Professor Fiona Meldrum in the School of Chemistry.

This project will take inspiration from biomineralization to achieve unprecedented – dynamic – control over crystallization processes.  To achieve this ambitious goal, it is necessary to create well-defined reaction environments, to rigorously characterise nucleation and growth with excellent time resolution and to be able to interact with a forming crystal. Thanks to advances in microfabrication techniques and analytical methods, we finally have the tools required to meet these demands.  

You will use microfluidic devices to create environments ranging from flowing droplets to defined, static chambers.  Solutions, particles and organic additives will be added at specific time points – even to flowing droplets – changing their compositions, and advanced analytical techniques – including synchrotron-based methods – will be used to study crystallization processes over multiple length scales with exceptional time-resolution.  

This has the potential to create a step-change in the way we study and control crystallization, with the ultimate goal of bringing the exceptional control over mineralization achieved in biology to the laboratory.

Holding a PhD (or will have submitted your thesis prior to taking up the appointment) in Physical Sciences or a closely related field, you will have a background in microfluidics and experience in the design and manufacture of microfluidic systems.

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 21.6% of salary.
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team, and self-development courses including languages, Creative Writing, Wellbeing Therapies and much more.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!  

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Professor Fiona Meldrum , Professor of Inorganic Chemistry

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 6414 or email: F.Meldrum@leeds.ac.uk  

Location:  Leeds – Main Campus
Faculty/Service:  Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences
School/Institute:  School of Chemistry
Category:  Research
Grade: 
Grade 7
Salary: 

£35,333 to £42,155
p.a.
Working Time:  37.5 hours per week
Post Type: 

Full Time
Contract Type:  Fixed Term (Until 31 August 2024 (grant funding))
Release Date:  Friday 28 October 2022
Closing Date:  Sunday 27 November 2022
Reference:  EPSCH1076
Downloads:  Candidate Brief