Research Associate in AI for Chemistry

Job number

NAT02092

Faculties

Faculty of Natural Sciences

Departments

Department of Chemistry

Salary or Salary range

£49,017 - £57,472 per annum

Location/campus

White City Campus - On site only

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Fixed term

Posting End Date

10 Dec 2025

About the role

Funded by a European Research Council Starting Grant, you would be working on the project "Defect-Tolerant Materials for Energy" at the interface of Materials Chemistry and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The project will focus on the use of computational chemistry and data-driven approaches to accelerate the discovery of inorganic materials for energy applications, including photovoltaics, transparent conductors, and thermoelectrics. This is an exciting opportunity to design and implement novel AI approaches for materials design and discovery. You will be part of a larger team of Research Associates and PhD students, consisting of computational chemists and computer scientists specialising in AI.

You will develop methods for extending machine learning force fields and training defect foundation models, using both software tools you develop and data collected by the larger team. You may also explore the potential for generative AI to accelerate the search for defect-tolerant materials. The broader research environment also includes the EPSRC-funded AI hub for Chemistry (AIchemy), for which Dr Ganose is a co-investigator.

What you would be doing

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

What we are looking for

The post is ideal for individuals interested in working creatively at the intersection of AI and energy materials.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

A start date from 01 February 2026 or thereafter is available.

You will be based at White City Campus, some travel to South Kensington Campus will be required.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week) and fixed term for 24 months.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant.

If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Dr. Alex Ganose,

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.

Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.

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