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University of Cambridge

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Postdoctoral Research Associate in Custom Optical Microscopy Development for Inorganic-Protein Hybrid Materials University of Cambridge in United Kingdom

Degree Level

Postdoc

Field of study

Chemistry

Funding

Fixed-term postdoctoral position funded for 18 months in the first instance, with a possible further 18 months if project milestone targets are met. Salary range £33,002-£46,049.

Deadline

Oct 20, 2026

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Country

United Kingdom

University

University of Cambridge

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Keywords

Chemistry
Biomedical Engineering
Materials Science
Biology
Microscopy
High-throughput Screening
Phase Separation
Microfluidic
Crystalline Materials
Physics

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About this position

University of Cambridge is advertising a Postdoctoral Research Associate in custom optical microscopy development within the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry. The project focuses on building and integrating bespoke optical systems with microfluidic ultra-high-throughput screening (uHTS) for label-free screening of phase separation in de novo designed inorganic-protein hybrid materials.

The successful candidate will design, assemble, align, and maintain microscopes that combine polarised optical microscopy (POM), fluorescence microscopy, and darkfield microscopy with droplet microfluidics platforms such as PhaseScan and cell-free expression systems. The work aims to extend screening to libraries ranging from 10K to more than 1M samples and to map the phase space of ordered inorganic hybrid materials.

This is a research-intensive postdoctoral role in a collaborative ARIA international consortium. The Knowles group provides expertise in droplet-based screening, soft matter physics, biophysics, and phase separation, while consortium partners contribute expertise in de novo protein design and high-throughput inorganic synthesis. The PDRA will also help supervise PhD and Master's students and support the maintenance of custom instruments.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should have hands-on experience building a bespoke optical microscope from individual components, including optical design, sourcing, assembly, alignment, and characterisation. A PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Mineralogy, or a related discipline is required or near completion. Preferred experience includes crystalline inorganic materials, polarisation optics (Jones/Mueller calculus), polariser/analyser alignment, and fluorescence optics with excitation/emission filtering and dichroics.

Funding and terms: the post is fixed-term and funded for 18 months initially, with a possible further 18 months if milestones are met. Salary is listed at £33,002-£46,049.

How to apply: use the online application system via the Apply button, upload a CV, covering letter, and publications list, and quote reference MA50992. For application queries, the post provides the contact email [email protected].

Deadline: 20 October 2026.

Funding details

Fixed-term postdoctoral position funded for 18 months in the first instance, with a possible further 18 months if project milestone targets are met. Salary range £33,002-£46,049.

What's required

Applicants must have demonstrated experience building a bespoke optical microscope from individual components, including optical design, sourcing, assembly, alignment, and performance characterisation, and must describe at least one instrument they built and their specific contribution. A PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Mineralogy, or a related discipline is required or imminent. Preferred experience includes synthesis and/or characterisation of crystalline inorganic materials, understanding of polarisation optics such as Jones/Mueller calculus, practical polariser/analyser alignment, and knowledge of fluorescence optics including excitation/emission filtering and dichroic/filter set selection.

How to apply

Click the Apply button to register an account with the recruitment system and submit the online application. Upload a CV, covering letter, and publications list. Quote reference MA50992 in your application and correspondence.

More information can be found here

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