Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Info

• Job Identification: 15129
• Locations: Kings Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, GB (Hybrid working)
• Organization: Edinburgh University Group
• Department: Chemistry
• Apply Before: 11/24/2026, 11:59 PM
• Health and Safety Requirements: No key hazards identified for this post
• Criminal Record Check: No criminal record check required
• Contract Type: Fixed Term
• Work Duration Months: 18
• Job Schedule: Full time
• Grade: UE07
• Number of Openings: 1
• Job Function: Researcher

Job Description

Grade: UE07 and salary scale: £41,885-£49,798
School of Chemistry / College of Science and Engineering
Full Time (35 hours per week), however we are open to considering part-time or flexible working patterns.
Fixed term (18 months)

The Opportunity:

Postdoctoral Research Associate (King-Smith Group)

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position to work under the supervision of Dr Emma King-Smith on a project funded by the EPSRC.

The successful candidate will work on projects to deliver new machine learning models for the delivery of novel therapeutic candidates. You can find out more about the King-Smith Group at the King-Smith Group Website.

Applicants should have:

• A PhD in chemistry, computer science, or related discipline (or have submitted a PhD thesis prior to taking up the appointment).
• Possess a deep interest in the development of new machine learning methods and their application to the chemical sciences.
• A proven track record of successfully completing research projects.
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills are essential.

Click to view a copy of the full Job Description

How to apply

Please include the following documents in your application:

• Up to date CV with details of two referees
• Cover letter (max 1 page)
• Research summary (max 2 pages)

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also a Stonewall Proud Employer, actively promoting LGBTQ+ equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages webpages (opens new browser tab)

The University is able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. If successful, an international applicant requiring sponsorship to work in the UK will need to satisfy the UK Home Office’s English Language requirements and apply for and secure a Skilled Worker Visa.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 24th November 2026

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.

About Us

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

About the Team

The School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh has a long and distinguished history. The first Chemistry Professor was appointed to the Chair in 1713 and the Edinburgh University student-led Chemical Society is regarded as the oldest chemical society in the world. The School is run as a single academic unit with approximately 160 staff (made up of academic, postdoctoral researchers and professional services staff) and 800 students (undergraduate, taught postgraduate and research students). Our vision is for all students and staff to harness their curiosity, utilising outstanding and diverse talents to pursue knowledge that can be used to tackle global challenges and improve people’s lives. Sustainability, collaboration and inclusion are at the heart of all our school activities.

School of Chemistry researchers deliver advances in both core and interdisciplinary chemistry across five overlapping themes: Catalysis & Synthesis, the Chemistry-Biology Interface, Functional Materials, Structural Chemistry & Chemical Dynamics, and Energy, Environment & Sustainable Chemistry. Our research underpins solutions to major global challenges including health, climate change, and sustainability, and we collaborate extensively with other disciplines and industry partners to take our research towards use. Our 55 group leaders work with a similar number of postdoctoral researchers and approx.155 research students to deliver £32M of current research grants across government, charity and industry funders, as well as a wide variety of public engagement activities.

Along with the University of St Andrews we formed EaStCHEM in 2004 to combine the research activities of two of Scotland’s leading schools of chemistry. Combined, we are the largest chemistry unit research in the UK. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), we were one of only three chemistry submissions to achieve a 100% “world-leading” score for our research environment. We hold a Silver Athena SWAN award, in recognition of excellence in science, engineering and technology employment in higher education relating to supporting women in Science. We are particularly proud of establishing the Christina Miller Fellowships, which have enabled seven talented postdoctoral researchers from under-represented groups to establish themselves as independent group leaders.

For further information about our school is available on the School of Chemistry Website (opens in a new browser tab).