Research Fellow (111806-0626)

About The Role Informal Queries

• For informal queries about the role, please contact Donald Evans (Senior Research Fellow) at Donald.M.Evans@warwick.ac.uk

Flexible Working

• We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis (e.g. job share), despite the position being advertised as full-time.

We are seeking to appoint an experienced Research Fellow to undertake advanced crystallographic research on superconductors and correlated oxide materials, with a particular focus on developing a detailed structural understanding of complex, weakly ordered, and incommensurate crystalline phases.

The post will centre on the use of high precision spatially resolved single crystal X ray diffraction (XRD) to resolve subtle symmetry breaking, modulated structures, and crystallographic heterogeneity that underpin superconducting behaviour. Particular attention will be given to structural phase transitions, oxygen sublattice ordering, lattice instabilities, nanoscale structural inhomogeneity and the structural defects such as dislocations or stacking faults.

About You You will have a PhD in physics, materials science, chemistry, or a related discipline, with a strong background in crystallography or diffraction based structural analysis.

You will have demonstrable experience in the study of complex structural behaviour in solids, such as weak or emergent symmetry lowering, incommensurate or modulated order, crystallographic disorder, or subtle lattice distortions associated with superconducting or correlated oxide materials such as ferroelectrics. Extensive experience with X ray diffraction techniques (powder or single crystal diffraction) is essential, and experience using XRD to investigate subtle transitions or oxygen occupancy ordering is highly desirable.

Experience of synchrotron beamtime is essential. A demonstrated track record via employment at a synchrotron or large scale facility beamline—for example contributing to instrument operation, user support, or method development—is particularly welcome.

Equally important, you will bring an open, positive, and collaborative approach to research, with enthusiasm for working across experimental boundaries. You will be comfortable acting as a conduit between diffraction specialists and functional materials researchers, contributing structural insight to a wider experimental story.

For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description attached as a PDF below. PhD Status If you are near submission of your PhD, or have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made at Research Assistant level, at the highest spinal point of pay grade 5 (£34,610 per annum).

Upon receipt of evidence confirming the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow , at the lowest spinal point of grade 6 (£35,608 per annum).

About The Department Group/Team The PDRA will occupy a bridging role between two closely interacting teams:

• The X ray Diffraction team led by Prof Mark Senn, specialising in advanced crystallographic methods for resolving complex and subtle structural phenomena.
• Dr Don Evans, who is part of the Functional Materials team, focused on superconductors and correlated oxides, employing in situ and nanoscale characterisation of superconductivity, including cryogenic conducting atomic force microscopy (c AFM)

The successful candidate will be expected to bring deep XRD expertise into the functional materials program, while simultaneously allowing practical insight from superconductivity measurements and in situ experiments to inform diffraction strategies and data interpretation. This two way integration is central to the role.

Department of Physics The post will be based in the Department of Physics, a vibrant academic department with over 200 academic, research, technical and professional services staff, over 800 undergraduate students and 200 postgraduate research students.

We are proud of our diverse community of staff, students, and visitors, and are committed to maintaining excellence in both teaching and research by promoting equality of opportunity for all, within a culture of mutual respect and dignity.

We are pleased to hold an Athena SWAN Silver Award, recognising our ongoing work to advance gender equality for all staff and students. We also hold an Institute of Physics Inclusion Award in support of our commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Further information about working in the Department of Physics and the benefits available can be found at www.warwick.ac.uk/physics/staff/working/.

Childcare for interviews

Childcare can be provided for you at the University of Warwick Nursery (www.warwick.ac.uk/services/childrensservices/nursery) in order for you to attend the interview. Childcare is subject to availability of places at the Nursery.

About The University We are a world-leading research-intensive university founded in 1965. We are ranked 74th in the world and 9th in the UK. * Additionally, 92% of our research is rated world-leading or internationally excellent .**

Find out more about us at warwick.ac.uk/about/.

• World University Ranking 2026, Complete University Guide 2026
• Research Excellence Framework 2021

How to Apply

Closing Deadline: Monday 6 July 2026 at 11:55pm (UK Time)* To apply, please click APPLY below and submit an application form by the closing deadline.

You will be asked to include a CV and Cover Letter. These documents should:

• Outline employment and education history (including your most recent employment).
• Demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the Job Description using clear examples.

Please ensure your application clearly evidences the essential criteria, as the hiring panel may not be able to shortlist your application if these are not demonstrated.**

• Interview Date: July 2026
• Start Date: As soon as possible
• Applications must be submitted through the warwick-careers.tal.net portal before the closing deadline. We recommend completing your application form in good time, as the advert will automatically close at the deadline.
• You are welcome to include any career breaks, such as parental leave, caring responsibilities, or long-term sickness absence. For guidance on how to format a cover letter, see here.

What we Offer

We Provide a Comprehensive Range Of Benefits, Including

• An attractive pension scheme.
• 30 days holiday plus University Christmas closure.
• Generous parental/adoption leave policy.
• Onsite childcare facilities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer access to flexible working arrangements. For more information, see here.

We are proud to be a Living Wage employer.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

To find out more about our commitments to equality, diversity, and inclusion, please see: Our Commitments | University of Warwick

Job Description JD - Research Fellow (111806).pdf – 96KB Opens in a new window

Right to Work in the UK

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.