Research Fellow in Geo-Mechanochemistry

The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research. We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ourselves into one of the best universities in the world, which we are achieving through the talents and endeavour of every employee. Our culture empowers people to achieve this aim and to collectively, and individually, make a real difference. The role Applications are invited for a Research Fellow position to work in the Catalysis for Chemical Circularity Group in the School of Engineering, University of Surrey. The main role of the post holder will be to carry out research to develop a geological inspired mechanochemical-UV process for efficient ROS production, using earth-abundant rock minerals. This interdisciplinary project is in close collaboration with academics in the University of Newcastle, University of Birmingham, and companies in the waste management and plastic production sectors. By participating in the stakeholder engagement, the post holder will gain great insight in the geo-mechanochemistry and plastic chemical recycling field. In addition, as part of a new EPSRC supporting career development initiative, the post holder will be provided with a separate amount of career development funding dedicated for their career development. The main project objectives are: O1. Mineral screening for ROS generation and inter-discipline knowledge transfer. O2. Optimise control parameters with high-throughput mechanochemical platform, and investigate interaction between mechanochemistry and UV. O3. Demonstrate the effectiveness of on-demand ROS generation for polyolefin waste upcycling. About you The successful candidate should hold or be about to receive a PhD in Material Science, Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, or a closely related discipline. You should have a strong background in experimental catalyst design, characterisation and testing. Prior knowledge of mechanochemistry, polymer chemistry and physics, plastic chemical recycling is especially welcomed. Essential experiences, knowledge and skills include: Practical experience with experimental design, catalytic reactions, material characterisation and chemical product analysis Ability to conduct a detailed review of recent literature Skilled in characterisation and analysis techniques such as XRD, FTIR, TGA, Raman spectroscopy, chromatography, NMR, and mass spectroscopy Excellent verbal and written communication skills Willingness to travel both within the United Kingdom and abroad to conduct research and attend conferences How to apply To apply for this role, please upload a CV and cover letter with your application via the University of Surrey website. For informal enquiries about the role, please contact Dr. Hui Luo (***email_hidden***). Interviews are expected to take place on 29th July. Further details For more information and to apply online, please download the further details and click on the 'apply online' button. In return we offer a generous pension, relocation assistance where appropriate , flexible working options including job and blended home/campus working locations (dependent on work duties), access to world-class leisure facilities on campus, a range of travel schemes and supportive family friendly benefits including an excellent on-site nursery. The University of Surrey is committed to providing an inclusive environment that offers equal opportunities for all. We place great value on diversity and are seeking to increase the diversity within our community. Therefore we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups, such as people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities. #divSocialMedia { padding:10px 0; overflow:hidden; } #divSocialMedia span { margin-right:5px; } #divSocialMedia div { display:inline-block; margin:10px 5px; } #divSocialMedia a { font-size:1.5rem; font-family:sans-serif; border:1px solid #888; border-radius:50%; padding:8px; } #divSocialMedia i { font-size:1.5rem; } #divSocialMedia a:focus { outline-offset:2px; }

Job Details

Department

Mechanical Engineering Sciences

Location

Guildford

Salary

£37,694 to £38,784 per annum

Fixed Term until 31/03/2028

Post Type

Full Time

Closing Date

23.59 hours BST on Thursday 09 July 2026

Interview Date

Wednesday 29 July 2026

Reference

028526