Research Associate/Fellow in Polymeric Vaccine Adjuvant synthesis and testing (fixed term) (ENG294018)

Applications are invited for a post-doctoral Research Associate/Fellow to work on the project "Engineering sustainable squalene analogues for novel vaccine adjuvant emulsions", funded by the NIH, in the Centre for Additive Manufacturing at the University of Nottingham, and in collaboration with the Infectious Diseases Research Institutes (IDRI) base in Seattle, USA.

The project aims to develop and validate via application testing a novel range of polymeric vaccine adjuvant products manufactured from agriculturally/sustainably   sourced reagents containing isoprene and terpene structures. As a route to achieve this the candidate will be synthesis targeted isoprene/terpene based polymeric structures using controlled polymerisation techniques and scale these processes up to 10 of   gram scale. The latter potentially using flow/microwave assisted processing.
It is expected that the role holder will have to visit the IDRI site to facilitate the analysis of the materials synthesised. The person appointed will work as part of a dynamic interdisciplinary team focussed on developing cutting edge polymer technologies as part of the Centre for Additive Manufacturing.

The Centre for Additive Manufacturing is a large interdisciplinary group active in the area of Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing. Comprising of around 100 academics, post-doctoral researchers and PhD students, it is one of the largest research centres for additive manufacturing and 3D printing   worldwide. The Centre engages with a broad range of academics from across the UK and a significant number of industrial partners to deliver on an industrially prioritised research agenda. At any one time the group has multiple on-going research activities across a number of different UK institutions, which are undertaken collaboratively and which employ contract research staff and students.

Candidates must hold or expect to shortly obtain a PhD, or equivalent in in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering or similar Science / Engineering degree with background in polymer chemistry or a closely related discipline. Candidates must be able to demonstrate practical experience of synthesis techniques relevant to polymer chemistry, use of the relevant characterisation techniques used in the definition of polymerised molecular structures and experience in relating how this data   will influence polymer properties.

This full time post, is available from 1 October 2018 and will be offered on a fixed term contract for a period of 24 months. The latest available start date is 31 January 2019. Job share arrangements may be considered. 

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Derek Irvine, email: derek.irvine@nottingham.ac.uk Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

Closing Date: 08 Oct 2018
Category: Research and Teaching (R&T)