Top Research Jobs in Edinburgh

Conduct applied postdoctoral research and epidemiological analysis to improve the use of real-world evidence in regulatory and health technology decision-making for medicines and medical devices. Work independently on data analysis projects and contribute to broader research programmes, collaborating with university and external stakeholders. The role is based within the University of Edinburgh’s population health and health data research teams.

Administer research grants before and after award for the School of Physics and Astronomy. Responsibilities include advising on grant application costs and submissions, supporting grant holders with award management and funder regulations, and preparing end-of-grant processes and final expenditure statements. The role requires accurate, numerate, organized, and customer-focused work, along with strong oral and written communication skills.

Supports a plant immunity research group through plant molecular biology laboratory work, maintaining plant materials, ensuring smooth laboratory operations, supporting research across the lab, and welcoming and training new members. The role is based at the Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, University of Edinburgh, and is a full-time, 12-month fixed-term position.

Conduct research on how climate-driven weather changes affect bird and mammal populations using population modelling, demography, ecological forecasting, and statistical tool development. Contribute to Open Science initiatives and the SPI-Birds database, develop R packages, publish research, collaborate with international teams, and engage with conservation and policy organisations through workshops.

Delivers qualitative and mixed-methods research on energy, environmental, and climate policy. Applies behavioural science frameworks, conducts interviews, focus groups, literature reviews, and evidence synthesis, and develops actionable recommendations for clients. Manages research projects and workstreams, client relationships, fieldwork, reports, presentations, and stakeholder engagement. Supports thought leadership, proposals, and business development while contributing to policy and advisory projects focused on decarbonisation, sustainability, behaviour change, and public attitudes.

Monitors global oil refineries and petrochemical facilities using real-time infrared imagery, trains machine learning models, queries high-frequency datasets, and generates market insights for trading clients. The role supports process improvement, cross-functional collaboration, client engagement, and integrated analysis of short-term energy markets.

Conduct predominantly laboratory-based research investigating indoor air pollution, particle reactivity, and toxicological health effects. Perform oxidative potential assays, particle characterization, animal studies, and biomedical analyses. Contribute to research direction, project coordination, manuscript preparation, grant applications, collaboration with research laboratories, and dissemination of findings within the INHABIT UKRI research hub.

Conduct research on pharmaceutical formulation, nanoparticle-based drug delivery, and nebulisation technologies for inhaled therapies. Lead experiments, apply analytical techniques, analyse data, publish findings, supervise students, and contribute to collaborative ARIA-funded projects. The role requires multidisciplinary teamwork, scientific communication, and participation in research and professional development activities.

Conduct translational research on cellular senescence in lung injury and inflammation using human precision-cut lung slices and cell-based models. Develop and standardize high-content imaging and high-throughput assays to characterize senescent cells and screen senolytic or senomorphic drugs. Test lead compounds in human lung slice models using tissue culture, microscopy, immunoassays, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting. The role is full-time, fixed-term, and requires onsite laboratory work.

Manages predominantly quantitative research and evaluation projects from inception through final reporting. Responsibilities include survey and questionnaire design, data specifications, data quality checks, project planning, budget and risk management, client and supplier communication, report and presentation writing, proposal development, and mentoring junior researchers. The role also interprets data to produce insights and applies AI tools to improve research delivery.

Conduct research on the RubberDUQ project within the Quantum Software Lab, developing mathematical foundations and practical tools for hybrid quantum-classical programming. Work may involve categorical semantics, programming language theory, quantum computing, compiler design, and compiler implementation. Collaborate with academic and industry partners, produce high-quality research outputs, and communicate complex technical concepts clearly.

Leads complex, large-scale quantitative research programmes across multiple countries, overseeing methodology, sampling, questionnaire design, fieldwork, reporting, budgets, risks, quality assurance, and dissemination. The role manages stakeholders, suppliers, multidisciplinary teams, and client relationships; develops proposals and business opportunities; presents findings to senior audiences; supports methodological development; and coaches colleagues. Work focuses on international social, health, human rights, migration, education, employment, and economic development research.

Oversee and monitor clinical trial sites to ensure protocol, regulatory, and GCP compliance. Conduct site visits, resolve issues, support site performance, and maintain data integrity. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, train site staff and CRAs, manage multiple sites and projects, and build stakeholder relationships to support successful trial execution.

Leads Ofcom’s research innovation and data strategy, overseeing statistics, analytics, behavioural research, innovative research methods, and programme management. The role develops responsible data and AI capabilities, improves access to insight, strengthens cross-organisational collaboration, manages senior teams and budgets, and represents Ofcom externally. It requires strategic leadership, advanced data science and research expertise, data ethics knowledge, programme management, change leadership, and the ability to communicate complex analysis to regulatory, policy, commercial, and external stakeholders.

Manage a portfolio of research grants, providing financial management, post-award administration, compliance with funder terms, financial reporting, and risk and issue resolution. The role supports researchers and professional services colleagues, helps maximize research income, improves processes, and trains others in new procedures within a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Conduct numerical calculations and formal developments in lattice field theory and precision lattice QCD, including semileptonic decays with QED corrections. Use C++ in UNIX environments and national supercomputing resources to produce research results in theoretical particle physics. The role requires independent research, publications, conference presentations, and collaboration within the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics.

Conduct organic chemistry synthesis research under the King-Smith Group to advance AI-guided chemistry. The role involves completing research projects, applying machine learning concepts to synthesis, communicating findings effectively, and contributing to a collaborative academic research environment. The position is full-time, fixed-term for 24 months, with part-time and flexible working arrangements potentially available.

Conduct research on how DNA damage drives mutagenesis as part of the Cancer Grand Challenges CAUSE team. Develop and apply methods to enrich and map DNA damage and modifications in the human genome, investigating repair, mutagenesis, and damage tolerance. Perform molecular biology, nucleic acid manipulation, biochemistry, and protein purification, while collaborating with experts in sequencing and mass spectrometry data analysis.

Conduct research on inflammation, innate immunity, and efferocytosis using Drosophila, live imaging, and complementary mammalian-focused collaboration. The role investigates how efferocytosis affects macrophage fate and function during health and disease, identifies evolutionarily conserved mechanisms, and contributes to a multidisciplinary Cell Death research group. Responsibilities include experimental research, collaboration, communication, professional development, and publication activities.

Conduct theoretical physics research within an ERC-funded project on classical and semiclassical aspects of scattering amplitudes. Work will examine large gauge transformations, amplitudes and observables, semiclassical observables in scattering and bound systems, and amplitudes in time-dependent spacetimes. The role involves collaboration with researchers at the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics and requires preparing a CV, research statement, and referee details for application.

Conduct theoretical particle physics research under the STFC Consolidated Grant, focusing on scattering amplitudes in gauge theory, Feynman integrals, kinematic expansions, infrared divergences, and Regge limits. Collaborate with researchers in the Particle Theory Group, prepare research outputs, and contribute to the wider Higgs Centre research community. The role is full-time and fixed-term for three years at the University of Edinburgh.

Supports the Research Accountant and Research Grants Team by preparing detailed financial award reconciliations, resolving legacy grant issues, identifying root causes, and implementing remedial ledger actions to support grant closure and post-award financial administration.

Conduct numerical calculations and formal developments in lattice field theory and theoretical particle physics. Research includes precision lattice QCD, multi-hadron scattering and decay amplitudes, long-distance matrix elements, and spectral quantities. The role requires using C++ in UNIX environments and national supercomputing resources, publishing research, presenting at conferences, and working independently within a two-year academic research project.

Conduct research in scattering amplitudes in gravitational physics, with applications to gravitational waves, cosmology, and formal theory. Collaborate with particle theory researchers at the Higgs Centre and contribute to the STFC Consolidated Grant UKRI4228. The role is a full-time, three-year postdoctoral position involving preparation of research outputs and participation in the University’s research community.

Conduct theoretical particle physics research on LHC phenomenology within the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics. Work will focus on extracting Standard Model parameters, developing machine learning tools, and calculating approximate N3LO corrections to top and jet cross-sections, with opportunities to collaborate with the NNPDF collaboration. The role also requires independent academic research, statistical data analysis, and communicating results through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.