Research Assistant in Design and Applications of LCE

About the role

The University of Cambridge's Department of Physics is recruiting a Research Assistant (fixed term, 1 year) to investigate liquid crystalline polymers and elastomers at the Cavendish Laboratory. The project aims to develop new polymeric materials with anisotropic properties and explore their applications in damping and adhesion. It is funded by the ERC Synergy grant ALCEMIST and involves a close collaboration with the University of Luxembourg and Nova University of Lisbon. The successful candidate joins Professor Eugene Terentjev's research group.

Key responsibilities

• Carry out basic research: preparing, setting up and running experiments, developing questionnaires and surveys, using straightforward mathematical modelling or scientific computation
• Conduct literature and database searches, and keep knowledge and skills up to date
• Analyse and interpret results, write up findings and contribute to research reports and publications
• Present research progress to supervisors such as steering groups and sponsors, and prepare papers for them
• Plan daily research activity, coordinate with colleagues and build internal and external contacts
• Maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, and manage own workload
• May assist in supervising student projects and give limited instruction to classes

Required profile

• First degree level education
• Proven organisational, communication and team-working skills
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Experience managing own workload

Required skills

• Organic synthesis of polymers
• Vibration testing experiments
• Numerical modelling (machine learning)
• Polyurethane and silane chemistry
• Ability to prepare and deliver summary presentations

Applications are made online through the University's recruitment system, quoting reference KA51626; the closing date is 20 December 2026. The advertised salary is £33,662 to £36,320 (Grade 5).