Job Description
Job Title:  Research Associate in Cementitious Materials
Posting Start Date:  08/09/2025
Job Id:  1536
School/Department:  Chemical, Materials & Biological Eng
Work Arrangement:  Full Time (Hybrid)
Contract Type:  Fixed-term
Salary per annum (£):  £38,784 - £41,064
Closing Date:  28/09/2025

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

 

Overview

 

We have an exciting opportunity in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering for someone with a passion for driving advances in development of novel, sustainable materials for radioactive waste disposal. It is ideally suited to someone looking to use their skills in chemical engineering, material science, or any other relevant discipline to make an impact on the development of cement-based materials  for the nuclear sector.

 

Nuclear power provides 20% of UK energy demand, and it is Central to UK Energy Security and Net Zero policies, however, it also generates significant amounts of radioactive waste. Legacy, current, and planned the UK nuclear facilities will generate 450,000 m3 of radioactive waste by the end of the century -  enough to fill Wembley Stadium. Most of this radioactive waste needs conditioning by encapsulating it in cement to prevent release to the environment.

 

Blended cements incorporating calcined clays (LC3 encapsulants) are considered the next major step for bulk cement supply within the cement industry along their road map towards ‘Net Zero’ and therefore highly likely to become part of the nuclear industries toolbox for waste and encapsulation.

 

The post holder will work in the Sustainable Materials at Sheffield (SMASH) research group in the School of Chemical, Materials, and Biological Engineering.

 

Main duties and responsibilities

 

  • Conduct a laboratory-based investigation on the application of innovative limestone calcined clay cements to the safe long-term immobilisation of wastes at the Sellafield site

  • Establish and advance current knowledge in the application of cementation to the immobilisation of radioactive wastes, to reduce the hazard posed by the potential release of radioisotopes to the biosphere.

  • Design and implement an experimental programme to gain fundamental understanding of the compatibility between the identified waste materials and the candidate cements

  • Lead the preparation of progress reports to summarise research findings for the project partners.

  • Lead the interaction with external partners and liaise with other members of the research group and collaborators over work progress.

  • Disseminate research findings/results through the production of papers for high quality peer-reviewed scientific journals

  • Plan for specific activities of the research project as agreed with the supervisory team.

  • Complete all required safety and training courses, and comply with required safety, licensing, and ethical regulations at all times.

  • As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.

  • Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post

 

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

 

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

A good honours degree (or equivalent experience) in chemical engineering, material science, chemistry, civil engineering, physics, or another relevant discipline.

Essential

Application and interview

Hold or be close to completion of a PhD (or have the equivalent experience closed) in chemical engineering, material science, chemistry, civil engineering, physics, or another relevant discipline, giving broad knowledge of cementitious materials of nuclear and construction sectors.

Essential

Application and interview

Knowledge and experience of the chemistry, engineering and material science of cements (including limestone calcined clay cements) for radioactive waste in immobilisation applications

Essential

Application and interview

Knowledge and experience of relevant fresh- and hardened-state cement testing and characterisation techniques, for example, at least some of: isothermal calorimetry, leaching analysis, ICP-OES, XRD, SEM, XRF, FTIR, NMR, TGA, electron microscopy and other solid-state and thermal analysis methods.

Essential

Application and interview

A strong technical focus, and the ability to design and conduct experiments/modelling to measure the properties of complex material systems. Ability to assess and organise resources, and plan and progress work activities.

Essential

Application and interview

Ability to develop creative approaches to problem solving, and to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer-term implications.

Essential

Application and interview

Strong leadership and management skills appropriate to take on a senior leadership role within the research group.

Essential

Application and interview

Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, and experience of delivering presentations in a clear, interesting, yet

concise and understandable manner.

Essential

Application and interview

Ability to effectively communicate results to both academic and industrial audiences, both domestic and international, as evidenced by a publication track record and attendance at conferences appropriate for current career stage.

Essential

Application and interview

Ability to work within a University research group and in collaboration with external partners.

Essential

Application and interview

 

Further Information

 

Grade

Grade 7 

Salary

£38,784 - £41,064

Work arrangement

Full-time

Duration

To start as soon as possible with an end date of 29th of February 2028

Line manager

Senior Lecturer

Direct reports

N/A

Our website

https://sheffield.ac.uk/cmbe

For informal enquiries about this job contact Dr Brant Walkley, Senior Lecturer on b.walkley@sheffield.ac.uk

 

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in late September or early October. This will consist of a presentation and panel interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage less than two weeks after the close date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact cmbe-postaward@sheffield.ac.uk.

 

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

  • A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.

  • Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.

  • Generous pension scheme.

  • A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.

  • A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).

  • Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.

  • A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways 

  • A range of generous family-friendly policies

    • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies

    • support for those going through the menopause

    • paid time off and support for fertility treatment

    • and more


More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

 

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

 

Baseline personnel security standard This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.

 

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.

Disability Confident Leader