Postdoctoral Research Associate

**UE07 £35,333 - £42,155 per annum**

**College of Science and Engineering, School of Chemistry**

**Full time 35 hours per week**

**Fixed term, 1 year in first instance**

**The Opportunity**:
We offer an exciting opportunity to carry out state-of-art spectroscopic experiments at the School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh. The project is motivated by one of the most exciting breakthroughs in astrochemisty over the last several decades: the iconic Buckminsterfullerene cation C 60 + was identified as a carrier of several diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs). This has not only provided the first answer to one of the most perplexing and longest standing problems in molecular spectroscopy and observational astronomy but also lays a roadmap toward revealing and understanding the molecular inventory of the interstellar medium (ISM), during a key stage in the evolutionary cycle of stars. Through this project, gas phase electronic spectra of fullerenes, their analogues, and related molecular ions of long standing astrochemical interest will be obtained for the first time using a combination of modern laboratory tools. These will be recorded at temperatures relevant to the ISM in experiments that exploit the unique capabilities of cryogenic radiofrequency (RF) ion traps. Ultimately, the goal is to address the grand challenge of identifying some of the remaining DIB carriers, and to understand their importance in our molecular universe.

**Your skills and attributes for success**:

- Experience in gas phase laser spectroscopy
- Experience working with high vacuum and cryogenic instrumentation
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Excellent written and oral communication skills

Click here for a copy of the full job description.

**As a valued member of our team you can expect**:
An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. We give you support, nurture your talent and reward success. You will benefit from a competitive reward package and a wide range of staff benefits, which includes a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits **pension scheme **, **staff discounts, **family friendly initiatives **, flexible working and much more. Access our **staff benefits page **for further information and use our **reward calculator **to find out the total value of pay and benefits provided.

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

The School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh has a long and distinguished history. The first Chemistry Professor was appointed to the Chair in 1713 and the Edinburgh University student-led Chemical Society is regarded as the oldest chemical society in the world. The School is run as a single academic unit with approximately 50 academic staff, 40 professional support staff and 250 research students and post-doctoral workers and a first year intake of 135 Chemistry undergraduates. The School of Chemistry at Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award, in recognition of excellence in science, engineering and technology employment in higher education relating to supporting women in Science.

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) ‘Power Table’, EaStCHEM, the joint research school of Edinburgh and St Andrews Chemistry departments, is ranked the 2nd best Chemistry Department in the UK, and 1st in Scotland. Overall, 95 % of our research is classed as world leading or internationally excellent and the EaStCHEM research School has grown to over 80 academics (99% of which were submitted to REF), a testament to both the breadth and strength of our research. More specifically, 100 % of our research environment, which includes factors such as our facilities, grant income, and awards and prizes, is rated as 4* or 3*, and more than 95 % of our research papers submitted for the exercise have been rated as 4* or 3*.

Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh has over £34M of current research grants, and has an international research reputation with many of our staff holding prestigious national and international awards. This world-class centre for chemistry has four research groupings: the Chemistry/Biology Interface; Experimental and Theoretical Chemical Physics; Molecular Synthetic Chemistry; and Materials Chemistry. Many academics are involved in more than one research area, and this breadth of activity is exemplified by our research collaborations with our EaStCHEM partner across a variety of disciplines.