The University of Manchester

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Research Associate @ The University of Manchester

ManchesterOnsiteContractPosted 6 days ago

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About this role

Job reference: SAE-031538 Salary: £37,694 - £46,049 per annum depending on experience Faculty/Organisational Unit: Science and Engineering Location: Oxford Road Employment type: Fixed Term Division/Team: Department of Civil Engineering and Management Hours Per Week: 1 FTE Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 15/06/2026 Contract Duration: 6 months Fixed term from 1st October 2026 to 31st March 2027 School/Directorate: School of Engineering

The EB-MIND (Engineering Biology for Metal Recovery from Industrial Waste Streams) project aims to pioneer a novel approach for the biorecovery of platinum group metals (PGMs) from industrial effluents using advanced engineering biology techniques. This multidisciplinary project brings together experts from geomicrobiology, molecular biology, material science, catalysis, and life cycle assessment to develop scalable and sustainable biotechnologies for metal recovery.

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our team and lead the environmental impact and circularity assessment work package (WP4). This role will involve applying life cycle assessment (LCA) tools and developing a circular economy framework to evaluate the environmental sustainability and circularity of the EB-MIND processes. The successful candidate will work closely with industrial partners, including Johnson Matthey, to compare the environmental impacts of engineered biological processes against existing industrial practices.

The post-holder will be based within an interdisciplinary and collegiate team of researchers at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the Department of Civil Engineering and Management (University of Manchester). We are looking for a person with a passion for research and a demonstrable skill to work in a highly interdisciplinary environment. Aligned with the Tyndall Centre’s missions, you will contribute towards the research team’s efforts to conduct research with genuine impact on policy and practice, and to publish in the very highest quality journals (indicatively, these might be Nature Sustainability, Journal of Cleaner Production and Resource Conservation and Recycling). Flexible working arrangements will be considered.

More detailed information about the responsibilities of the post and selection criteria can be found in the ‘Further Particulars’ document attached at the bottom of this advert.

Our benefits include: • Generous employer contribution pension • 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure • Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Alejandro Gallegoschmid

Email: [email protected]

General enquiries and administrative support

[email protected]

Technical and job portal support

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

Further particulars including job description and person specification are available on the University of Manchester website - click on the 'Apply' button above to find out more

Skills

Engineering & TechnologyHigher EducationCivil EngineeringAcademic or ResearchMetallurgy & Minerals TechnologyAcademic

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