Job Description

ABOUT THE ROLE

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research fellow position in the area of microsystems and soft matter physics with a focus on particle vibration and microfluidic systems.

Smart Materials and Surfaces Laboratory at Northumbria University is seeking to appoint a highly motivated researcher to investigate novel methods for filtering and sorting micro- and nano- particles and emulsions. The focus of the research is a crucial step in a wide range of applications: from large scale processing for pharmaceuticals, paint and cosmetic industries to lab-on-a-chip microfluidic systems for bio-particle detection and extraction.

The successful candidate will conduct research work to investigate the dynamics of microparticle motion in a liquid media with \xe2\x80\x9cDecoupled Space and Time Gradients for Particle Enrichment, Sorting and Isolation\xe2\x80\x9d. This position is funded by Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) project grant (EP/W037718/1). The project is for a fixed term of 36 months.

The project focuses on fundamental investigation in the effect of fluid flow gradients on particle motion in micro- and milli-fluidic systems, while exploring sorting applications for particle manufacturing and liquid biopsy with industrial partners. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of academics comprising of Dr Prashant Agrawal (Physics and Engineering), Dr Hamdi Torun (Engineering and Microsystems) and Prof. Stephen Todryk (Health and Life Sciences) at Northumbria University, UK. The position also offers significant opportunities for entrepreneurship.

This role is fixed term for 36 months.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The successful candidate will be based in the Department of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering encompassing interdisciplinary research areas in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Microsystems, Smart Materials, Microelectronics, Communications, Physics, Astrophysics, Mathematics and Statistics. The candidate will receive mentoring and will be supported to progress towards their independent academic or industrial careers.

ABOUT YOU

The ideal candidate will have a good theoretical and applied knowledge of lab-on-chip systems and microfluidics. Experience in analytical modeling techniques and numerical simulations is crucial for the delivery of the project. The candidate is expected to explore multidisciplinary work and collaborations with the project partners and the wider research community internal and external to the university. A PhD in a relevant discipline is essential. In addition to the scientific work, the candidate is expected to contribute to the dissemination of the project outcomes. Demonstration of proficiency in publishing scientific work is essential.

Further information about the requirements of the role is available in the .

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Dr Prashant Agrawal on +44 191 227 3868 or email

To apply for this vacancy please click \'Apply Now\'. Your application should include a covering letter and a CV.

We welcome applications from the UK and across the world. Visit our web pages for details about .

ABOUT US

At Northumbria, we embrace tomorrow. We pursue new thinking, forge new partnerships, create, and exchange new knowledge, and find new solutions. Our inspirational academics, partners and students work together to tackle tomorrow\'s challenges head on. We are ready for the future whatever it may hold.

Awarded the title of University of the Year in the 2022 Times Higher Education Awards, Northumbria University is a research-intensive modern university with a global reputation for academic excellence.

Northumbria recorded the biggest rise of any UK university for research power in the Research Excellence Framework for the second time in 2021 and is now ranked top 25 for this measure.

One of the largest universities in the UK with over 37,000 students from 137 countries, filled with world-leading research, award-winning partnerships, and students at the heart of an outstanding experience, Northumbria is a new kind of excellent university. Discover more about us.

Northumbria University is a great place to work. We empower our exceptional people to achieve shared ambitions and promote a positive work life balance. To say thank you, we offer a wide range of benefits including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, a generous holiday entitlement, continued commitment to your learning and development and more.

Our Northumbria Values are guiding principles that define who we are, what we do and what is important to us. Our Values are: Academic Excellence; Innovation; Inclusivity; Collaboration; and Ambition.

Our Behaviours describe how we do things and how we work together at Northumbria, reflecting our culture and our decision-making. Our Behaviours are: We listen and learn, we support one another to success, we respect everyone and their contributions, we trust in ourselves and each other and we are bold.

Our Behaviours were co-created by colleagues from a range of roles across the University, who worked collaboratively to consider what it feels like to work for Northumbria, and where we need to continue to transform together to achieve what\'s important to us.

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We are an on-campus organisation where colleagues work regular patterns of hours and on campus, with some flexibility on the timing of their hours and the location of their work in discussion with their manager.

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our staff. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers.

The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process.

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