Postdoctoral Research Associate

Grade UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum

CSE / School of Chemistry

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed-term: 2 years 

Help us redefine what’s possible. Be part of something bigger. Are you PASSIONATE about making a difference? 

The Opportunity:

We are seeking to recruit a post-doctoral scientist to join the Campopiano group in the School of Chemistry to develop biocatalysts that convert low value, carbon-containing waste molecules into high value chemicals. This exciting opportunity will see you design methods to isolate and characterise a range of recombinant, active biocatalysts. You will use these to develop HTP screens to optimise the conversion of substrates to products in high % conversion. Where necessary, you will use modern protein design/engineering tools to generate libraries of biocatalyst variants with improved properties. Where appropriate, you will develop methods to combine biocatalysts and chemocatalysts into efficient synthetic routes. At the same time, you will screen a range of microbes to isolate novel biocatalysts that can catalyse novel chemical reactions. You will use protein characterisation methods to characterise, clone and express these novel biocatalysts. 

The Campopiano group has published a range of biocatalyst-driven approaches to produce numerous target molecules. This exciting new role requires you to act as a key member of the UKRI-funded Carbon-Loop Sustainable Biomanufacturing Hub (C-Loop). You will work closely with a range of C-Loop scientists in the BioFactory to transfer the in vitro biocatalytic cascades into suitable microbial hosts. You will also explore the use of waste substrates and investigate their conversion to the target molecules both in vitro and in suitable microbial hosts. 

This post is full-time (35 hours per week); however, we are open to considering flexible working patterns.

View the full job description (opens in a new browser tab) 

How to apply

Please include the following documents in your application:

- CV

- Cover letter

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 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 Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT 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.

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 3rd August 2026.

Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone.

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 (https://chem.ed.ac.uk/) (opens in a new browser tab).