Postdoctoral Research Associate in Solid State Chemistry

About the role

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Inorganic Chemistry to work under the supervision of Professor Michael Hayward for a period of up to 9 months, to work on the EPSRC funded project “Prototyping a new green ammonia synthesis process using water, air and concentrated solar energy” in collaboration with Prof. Laura Torrente-Murciano, at the University of Cambridge. The project aims to demonstrate a proof-of-concept synthesis of green ammonia using water directly as a hydrogen source in combination with nitrogen, from the air. The post holder’s role within the project will focus on developing a thermal water splitting process based on complex transition metal oxides, and then studying the kinetics of the process to facilitate the design of a reactor to integrate this hydrogen generation model with the ammonia synthesis module.

Find out more about the Hayward research and group at: https://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/people/mike-hayward.

About you

Applicants must hold a PhD in Inorganic or Materials Chemistry or a relevant subject area, (or be close to completion) prior to taking up the appointment.  The research requires experience in synthetic inorganic/materials chemistry and in the chemical and structural characterisation of extended or molecular solids.

You will be expected to manage your own academic research and administrative activities. This involves small scale project management, coordination with project partners at the University of Cambridge and organising your activity to meet deadlines.

The post will be based in the Department of Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, South Parks Road, Oxford and is available from 1 August 2025.

Application Process

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your application. In your supporting statement (<5 pages), please explain how you meet each of the selection criteria found in the job description.

Certificates, references and research papers should not be provided at this stage.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday, 10 July 2025, UK time. Interviews will be held as soon as possible thereafter.

The University of Oxford and The Department of Chemistry are Silver Athena SWAN holders.  Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and ethnic minority candidates, who are under-represented in Chemistry research posts in Oxford.