Research Fellow Full-time

Research Fellow

Applications are invited for a full time research position to work with Dr Catherine Kamal on the project titled “Understanding and improving the production of 2D nanomaterials by liquid-based methods: a mathematical perspective”. This position is funded by the Royal Society and will involve collaboration with the Cambridge Graphene Centre, an industrial partner Versarien and experimentalists. The project's aim is to create a mathematical or computational model for the liquid-induced break-up of layered particles into thinner and smaller particles, such as the break-up of graphite into graphene. Such a model could use techniques from continuum fluid dynamics, solid mechanics and/ or molecular dynamics. The emphasis of the model will be to find strategies to improve the current device used by Versarien and the Cambridge Graphene Centre to produce graphene particles, or other such 2D materials, on a bulk scale.

This post is available from 1st October 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter for approximately 36 months in the first instance due to funding restrictions.

Salary will be UCL Grade 7, point 31 which is £ 45,103 annum inclusive of London Allowance. Please note: Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent on award and confirmation of a PhD (or equivalent). If this is not the case, the initial appointment will be at Research Assistant Grade 6B, point 25 (salary £38,607 per annum inclusive of London allowance) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.

An outstanding candidate will have an interest and research experience in colloidal science, microhydrodynamics, molecular dynamics simulations or a related topic and experience in developing mathematical or physical models for fluid related problems. For a full spectrum of duties and responsibilities as well as essential, and desired criteria please refer to the Further Particulars document attached to this advert. If you have any queries regarding the vacancy or the application process, please contact Anna Rutherford (anna.rutherford@ucl.ac.uk). Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Catherine Kamal email: c.kamal@ucl.ac.uk. We particularly welcome female applicants and those from an ethnic minority, as they are under-represented within UCL at this level.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan • Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/.