Two Research Assistants/Associates in production and characterisation of zero emissions Cambridge Electric Cement (Fixed Term).
Cambridge Electric Cement is a new and exciting route to creating Portland Cement in an electric arc furnace starting from recovered cement paste. We have proved the process in small-scale lab trials with the Materials Processing Institute, and as a result been awarded two grants to develop the process towards industrial operation. We are therefore looking to appoint two excellent post-doctoral researchers to explore the fundamental science of the process and characterise the resulting cement.
The first grant is a 3-year EPSRC interdisciplinary project, in collaboration with leading researchers in the field of metallurgy and cement material science at Warwick and Imperial College, and trials conducted at the Material Processing Institute. The second grant (Innovate UK) brings together industrial partners spanning the entire supply chain from demolition, through aggregates, steel-recycling, cement blending, construction and a final client, with the goal of producing and using twenty tonnes of the new cement within two years.
We wish to recruit two post-doctoral researchers with strong expertise in relevant material science, to help reveal the science underling the new process and to validate and understand the performance of the resulting cement. Candidates will use techniques ranging from modelling to mechanical and chemical testing, and also study the industrial, ecological, and economic aspects of the new process, as part of a broader research programme. Candidates should hold a PhD in a technical field, ideally material science with a specialisation in concrete or metallurgy (steel). They will have or be able to develop skills in material characterisation of cementitious systems. Experience in sample preparation, electron-microscopy, XRD and mechanical testing is desirable as is experience working effectively in interdisciplinary environments, both with industrial and academic partners, along with a proven record of disseminating research to academic and industrial audiences.
The post-holders will work in the Use Less Group in the Cambridge University Engineering Department, Central Cambridge.
Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate upon award of the PhD.
Salary Ranges:
Research Assistant: £27,116 – £31,406
Research Associate: £33,309 – £40,927
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 30 September 2025 in the first instance.
Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.
Click the ‘Apply’ button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please upload your CV and covering letter in the Upload section of the application. Additional documents uploaded will not be considered as part of your application. The deadline for submission is midnight (UK time) on the closing date.
Please direct questions to Kirsten Saward on [email protected].
Please quote reference NM31811 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.