Research Fellow

Overview

The UCL Department of Chemical Engineering is hiring a Research Fellow to lead computational research focused on the design, screening, and optimisation of metal-organic frameworks for target adsorption applications. The post holder will develop and operate high-throughput computational screening workflows that integrate automated structure generation, molecular simulation, and large-scale materials databases. Advanced molecular simulations of adsorption, including molecular dynamics, quantum calculations, and grand-canonical Monte Carlo, will be performed to predict and characterise candidate material performance.

Requirements

Applicants must hold or shortly expect to obtain a Ph.D. in Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Machine Learning, Materials Science, or a related quantitative discipline, or have equivalent industry experience. Candidates are also required to have an undergraduate degree with a minimum 2(i) classification or an M.Sc. in a relevant field. Essential qualifications include demonstrable experience with atomistic or molecular simulation methods, knowledge of adsorption processes for gas capture and nanoporous materials such as MOFs, zeolites, or porous polymers, and experience or knowledge of material informatics and large materials dataset analysis. Additionally, candidates must possess demonstrable experience or knowledge of data-driven approaches and computational modelling, which encompasses optimisation techniques, machine learning methods, and relevant programming skills.

What you get

This position provides a salary ranging from £47,186 to £50,942 per annum, which is inclusive of a London allowance. The position is offered as a full-time, fixed-term contract running until December 31, 2029, in the first instance, with a hybrid work arrangement. Employees also gain access to a range of benefits offered by the institution.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is November 4, 2026.