Senior Researcher

Applications are invited for a Senior Researcher to join the Department of Chemistry, working under the supervision of Professor Andrew Goodwin for a period of up to five years.
About the role

This post is associated with the recently-funded Royal Society Faraday Discovery Fellowship project "Responsive Disorder", which aims to develop, and understand functional materials that employ responsive kinds of correlated disorder.

As a Senior Researcher, you will assist Professor Andrew Goodwin with the management of the research project and the related research team, while also carrying out original research within the more general theme of responsive disorder. The role will also involve day-to-day supervision of researchers within the broader Faraday Discovery Fellowship team.

The role is intended for an early-career research leader seeking to develop experience in team management skills as a stepping-stone to an academic career.

Find out more about the Goodwin Group at:
About you

Applicants must hold a PhD/DPhil in a relevant subject area prior to taking up the appointment, together with post-qualification research experience demonstrating research independence.

You will have an outstanding publication record appropriate to your career stage, with expertise in the use of advanced diffraction methods applied to complex ordering phenomena in functional materials and their response to external stimuli. In addition, you will have experience of developing independent research ideas and leading high-quality research projects, with the ability to work effectively within large multidisciplinary collaborations.

Experience of central facilities experiences and experiment design, broad intellectual expertise spanning chemistry, materials science and physics, and experience managing large collaborative research programmes would be advantageous.

The post will be based in the Department of Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QR. Some flexibility for hybrid/remote working may be agreed upon appointment, with requests for up to 2 days/week considered.
Application Process

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your application. In your supporting statement (<5 pages), please explain how you meet each of the selection criteria found in the job description.
Certificates, references and research papers should not be provided at this stage.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday, Wednesday 12 August 2026, UK time. Interviews will be held on Friday 21 August 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The University of Oxford and The Department of Chemistry are Silver Athena SWAN holders. Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and ethnic minority candidates, who are under-represented in Chemistry research posts in Oxford.