Research Fellow in Computational Discovery of Wide Band Gap Conducting Oxides - School of ChemistryGrade 7

Position Details

School of Chemistry College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range 36636 to 46049 with potential progression once in post to 48822

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 7 salary 36636.

Full Time Fixed Term contract up to August 2028

Closing date: 19th August 2025

UK and International travel may be required for this role

Background

The post holder will be required to carry out computational materials chemistry research focussed on understanding and predicting novel wide band gap oxides and in examining defects processes in these materials. Computational work will be performed in collaboration with experimental efforts and so the post holder will also present results and contribute significantly to an interdisciplinary feedback loop.

The School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham is a vibrant and thriving academic community with over 100 academic and research staff 20 professional services staff and over 600 students. We provide an inclusive and supportive environment where we strive to support every member of staff in realising their career a strong focus on our four Research Themes of Energy Sustainability Environment and Health and a number of interdisciplinary Interest Groups serving as testbeds to explore new and emerging areas of interest we are a dynamic place to work. We have ambitious plans to expand our research activity and are in an exciting period of growth:major investment from the University will deliver a state-of-the-art research building (opening in 2023/24) and new multi-million pound high-performance computing facilities which will ensure UK-leading compute investments build on a major recent expansion of our academic staff and investment in our teaching and learning provision with our Collaborative Teaching Laboratory which opened September 2018 already revolutionising how we teach undergraduate practical chemistry.

We are a collegiate School community. You will demonstrate academic citizenship develop and maintain generous mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with the School ensuring the way you carry out your role impacts positively on how others carry out theirs.

The Scanlon Materials Theory Group (SMTG) is led by Professor David O. Scanlon. We are seeking to recruit a Research Fellow in Computational Discovery of Wide Band Gap Conducting Oxides who will computationally explore new semiconducting oxides for transparent conducting oxide and power electronics applications. The position is funded by the project PRAETORIAN an ERC Consolidator grant that has been underwritten by UKRI and is available from 01 October 2025 through to the end of the project in August 2028.

This post will bring opportunities for career development enable you to realise your ambitions in research and teaching and enhance your leadership and management will initiate conduct and disseminate original research which will have measurable outcomes reflected in your growing national reputation. Management and administration activities will allow you to make important contributions at School level and to managerial/leadership activities (e.g. working groups) across the wider University.

Please attach to your application the following:

• CV (including full publication list and research capabilities)
• Highlight your top 3-5 publications with a brief statement as to their significance
• Contact details of 3 referees
• Cover Letter indicating how you meet all of the person specifications

Role Summary

• Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids
• Operate within area of specialism
• Devise perform and supervise research projects and collect data in agreed areas to a high level of competency and quality
• Take part in collaborative research projects within and outside the group
• Project manage research activities to develop new ideas directions research objectives techniques and methods in order to advance the groups research and enhance its quality
• Play a role in setting the group culture and introducing new group members to all aspects of their role
• Maintain a high level of knowledge of the immediate and surrounding literature for both your own project and those more widely in the group
• Plan publish and/or execute high quality research
• Analyse and interpret data generated from all aspects of the groups work and where required develop novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Draft scientific papers and significantly contribute to the improvement of other scientific papers originating in the group
• Disseminate research findings by oral and other presentation in a range of fora from group meetings to research seminars and conferences etc.
• Contribute to generating funding
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues asset or company sales IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• To computationally investigate a range of wide band gap oxides systems by analysing their electronic structure and defect chemistry
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research with assistance of a mentor if required
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• To record analyse and write up the results of the research in collaboration with a team of varied backgrounds
• Disseminate research findings for publication research seminars etc; contribute to the drafting and submitting of papers to peer reviewed journals
• To prepare progress reports on research for funding bodies as required
• To contribute to the preparation and drafting of research bids and proposals
• To contribute to the overall activities of the research team and department as required; supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• To undertake a limited amount of teaching in relation to subject area
• To contribute to the induction and direction of other research staff and students as requested
• Contribute to developing new models techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University often under supervision of a project leader
• Responsible for ensuring that equipment is safe and maintained in working order
• The job description reflects the present requirements of the post and as duties and responsibilities change/develop the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder
• The post holder will carry out any other duties as are within the scope spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the line manager

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism
• PhD (or be near to completion) in Computational Materials Chemistry or arelated discipline
• Experience in Defect Chemistry Analysis
• Experience in Python Programming
• Expertise in Electronic structure analysis of solids
• Expertise in phonon calculations
• Experience of the VASP Code
• Experience of kinetic Monte Carlo
• Experience of Grain Boundary Modelling
• Experience of working with High-Performance Computing platforms
• Experience of High throughput Calculations
• Fluency in relevant models techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• A strong publication track record
• Proven research skills in computational chemistry particularly QM and hybrid density functional theory
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Informal enquiries to Prof. David Scanlon Professor of Computational Chemistry email:

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyoneon our website.