This role is funded through the Plymouth Materials Characterisation Project (PMCP) which is supported by an investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
This new role has been created as part of an EU-funded research collaboration project supporting academia & industry within the South-West of England. The technical specialist will be jointly responsible for the day-to-day running and management of our new FIB-SEM (focused ion beam scanning electron microscope), also acquired through EU funds. You will join a team of other technicians and academics based within the Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre, a core facility for the Faculty of Science and Engineering on the main, city centre campus within the University of Plymouth.
The role reports to the PMCP project director in the first instance, and is designed to engage with local industry in order to develop new collaborations between external clients and the university environment. In addition to this, the role will provide technical support and academic guidance to both students and staff using the facility, particularly with respect to the project design and optimum, measurable outcomes, particularly within the research groups based in the School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences. The technical specialist will be strongly encouraged to engage with the relevant academic departments to develop a measurable research output.
Every member of staff at University of Plymouth contributes to delivering the University's mission to advance knowledge and transform lives through education and research. As a technical specialist at University of Plymouth, you will be expected to;
- Support the provision of outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, research and knowledge transfer. - Support skills development amongst the University's students, in respect to both taught subjects and research. - Ensure that technical support is of the highest standard to enable and enhance the employability of our students and the reputation of the Faculty, School and University. - Provide technical support and expertise for teaching and research primarily within the School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences.- Liaise with the PMCP project director and project manager to achieve measurable outputs as specified by ERDF funding guidelines, i.e. working with SMEs on academic partnerships & research projects.
All activities undertaken within this role need to be in compliance with the University's Safety Policy and undertaken in a way that demonstrates the University's commitment to Equality and Diversity for staff, students and partners.
You will have a first degree in a related scientific discipline alongside a PhD or equivalent qualification, or relevant technical experience working within the laboratory setting. Relevant experience using EM based technologies is essential to this new role and experience of FIB-SEM specifically would be desirable.
As part of an EU-funded project, this role will require you to engage with external clients or partners in a professional manner, as well as work with students and colleagues within the university environment. The ability to prioritise and complete work to deadlines in both the commercial and academic environment is essential, and the desire to promote and develop electron microscopy techniques whilst developing an independent research profile is strongly encouraged.
Contact for informal discussion:
Please contact Dr Natasha Stephen, Project Director (PMCP) & Lecturer in Advanced Analysis, for further information or informal enquiries. natasha.stephen@plymouth.ac.uk or 01752 586 125
This is a Full Time position working 37 hours per week on a Fixed Term basis for 3 years initially.
University of Plymouth is committed to an inclusive culture and respecting diversity, and welcomes applications from all sections of the community and is a Stonewall diversity champion.
The University holds a Bronze Athena SWAN Award which recognises commitment to advancing women's career in STEMM academia.
University of Plymouth has been recognised by Bloomberg as one of the 50 best UK employers for 2016.
Job Description