Salary
Research Assistant: £32,546 to £34,132 per annum
Research Associate: £35,116 to £38,249 per annum
Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
Closing Date: 28 July 2025
The Role
We are seeking to appoint a talented and enthusiastic Research Assistant or Research Associate with experience in testing and studying electrochemical system (e.g. Electrolysers) to join our group in studying power intermittency impact on various water electrolyser materials and technologies. The candidate will be joining a team of researchers across five institutes working on 5 year programme grant Ocean Refuel.
Ocean Renewable Energy Fuels project will explore ways of converting ocean energy into fuels including hydrogen and ammonia for use in heating, energy storage and difficult to decarbonise transport applications.
As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of research role profiles. These profiles set out firstly the generic competences and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and secondly the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.
Electrochemical Engineering group at School of Engineering is recognised as world leading with expertise focusing on electrochemical energy conversion and storage.
Prof. Mohamed Mamlouk has long track record and international standing in hydrogen research. You will be working with additional PDRAs (electrocatalyst, membrane and electrode modelling) at Newcastle on the project and closely with project partners universities. At Newcastle, you will be part of multiplanetary international teams of over 15 researchers in area of Electrochemical Engineering with access to state-of- the-art facilities.
For more information on Ocean Refuel, please visit https://www.oceanrefuel.ac.uk/
For informal enquiries about this role, please contact Mohamed Mamlouk https://www.ncl.ac.uk/engineering/staff/profile/mohamedmamlouk.html
For more information on the School of Engineering please visit
https://www.ncl.ac.uk/engineering/
This is a full time role (37 hours per week) and is fixed term for a duration of up to 36 months.
To Apply, please complete the online application form and attached a copy of your CV and a covering letter (no more than 2 pages). The cover letter must explain how you meet the Knowledge, Skills and Experience criteria detailed below.
Key Accountabilities
- Lead testing of electrolyser components developed by group members and collaborators (membrane, electrocatalyst and other cell components)
- Work closely with other researchers on the project within the group and consortium to share information and data to optimise and validate models to ensure high efficiency and performance of the overall integrated system
- Manufacture membrane electrode assemblies for electrolysis cells
- Operate, modify or build electrolyser test system including balance of plant to study electrolyser system
- Able to assemble and test electrolyser cells and stacks against various water purity feeds and analyse product gas purity
- Study system dynamic response and impact on performance from variation in input power dynamics
- Analyse performance data and identify constrains and recommendations
- Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and in time develop own research objectives and proposals for funding
- Support PhD and Master students during their research projects. Supervise and provide advice to junior staff and researchers on mathematical modelling practice
- Produce regular reports and presentations on progress to the research project academic supervisors
- Interacting with academic members and industrial members of the project partners, providing suitable paper, electronic and oral reporting
Knowledge, Skills And Experience
- Experience of research in testing and studying electrochemical systems and components (e.g. electrocatalyst)
- Demonstrable subject knowledge in electrochemistry and various electrochemical testing techniques
- Experience in operating or modifying electrolyser system or similar chemical or electrochemical systems
- Experience in assembly and testing of electrolyser cell or stacks or similar systems
- High level of analytical and problem solving capacity
- Ability to communicate complex information (verbally and written) with clarity and to encourage the commitment of others
- Ability to design and prepare professional reports and present findings to industrial and academic project partners at conferences and project meetings and write high quality scientific publications
- Ability and experience of supervision of junior staff, postgraduate and undergraduate research projects
Desirable
- Experience in electrocatalyst synthesis and characterisation
- Experience in electrolyser membrane electrode assemblies and working with stacks
- Experience in balance of plant
Attributes and Behaviour
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Professional approach with a demonstrable commitment to dignity and respect in the workplace
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills with the general public and external stakeholders and the ability to interact with people from different disciplines
- Good project organizational skills and the ability to work to strict deadlines
- Monitor and, where appropriate, manage research resources (e.g. time, finance, laboratory space, equipment, computing time) effectively
- Ability to work in a diverse team but also independently. Contributing to the development of effective and mutually supportive working relationships and practices
- Play a major part in the dissemination of individual or team-based research outputs
- Ensure intellectual rigour and adherence to ethical standards in the research for which they are responsible
- Assist colleagues in interpretation of their data, to manage competing priorities, and to develop their research skills
- Ensure that knowledge and methodological/technical skills in their own, and related, areas of scholarship are extended and inform research activities
Qualifications
Essential for Research Assistant post:
- Working towards or nearing completion of a PhD (within 3 months max) in chemistry, materials science, electrochemical /chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related discipline
Essential For Research Associate Post
- A fully completed and awarded PhD in chemistry, materials science, electrochemical /chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related discipline
Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 28233