Postdoctoral Research Associate

Working at Durham University  

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a warm and friendly place to work, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.

As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.  

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it’s also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community.

Our University Strategy is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential. 

Our Purpose and Values

We want our university to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what their identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page

The Role and Department

The successful candidate will be working in the Durham University Space Research Centre (SPARC) and the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) in the Department on Physics.

SPARC is a new research centre connecting experts across space technology, operations, governance and security. We are founded on the principle of open, rigorous and independent research to grow the capacity and capabilities of space applications while protecting the space environment for present and future generations. Our vision encompasses not only the pursuit of cutting-edge technologies but also the holistic understanding of space and its broader societal, ethical, and environmental impacts. Through responsible, multi-disciplinary research, including novel sensors, environment modelling, machine learning, governance and operations, we aim to address the complex challenges and opportunities of space exploration.

CfAI is a large research group in the Department of Physics at Durham University with approximately seventy staff and research students. CfAI’s mission is to design and develop novel instrumentation based on cutting edge technologies. CfAI develops state-of-the-art ground and space-based instruments for applications across a wide range of disciplines including adaptive optics, spectroscopy, biophysics, remote sensing, laser communications, and fusion diagnostics. We host the ESA affiliated lab on free-space optics.

CfAI has provided major instruments for many of the world’s leading astronomical facilities including the James Webb Space Telescope, William Herschel Telescope, Gemini Telescopes, Southern African Large Telescope and the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope. Major current ground-based instrumentation projects in CfAI include HARMONI and MOSAIC, the first-light spectrograph and multi-object spectrograph for the upcoming 39m diameter Extremely Large Telescope.

The Role

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Free-Space Optics group. Satellite communications systems promise ubiquitous networks, but are fundamentally limited by spectrum availability, potential bandwidth and security resulting from the use Radio Frequencies for communications. Free Space Optical Communications offer an exciting technology which can provide a high bandwidth gateway to the satellite network, free of licensing requirements. In addition, point to point optical links are more secure that radio links where signal diverges over a large area, and can be further secured by Quantum Encryption techniques. On the other hand, optical links are affected by clouds (overcome by making various sites on the ground available) and turbulence in the atmosphere. Atmospheric turbulence introduces optical link instability, which if not compensated, negate the advantages of the optical link.

CfAI at Durham University has been developing Adaptive Optics systems for a number of decades to mitigate the effects of atmospheric turbulence on optical systems. Originally targeted to astronomy, optical communications is now a key activity for the group. We focus on tackling problems associated with very “strong” daytime turbulence, how to create a stable bi-direction optical link (also up to the satellite), and how to package these advanced technologies in compact and resilient modules to prove their commercial viability. In addition to actively compensating the turbulence, we also research the statistical theory behind the generation of turbulence and its effect on optical beams, develop software tools to simulate light propagation through the atmosphere, and create new and novel instrumentation to measure it in the field.

In this role, the successful candidate will lead the installation of a new optical ground station facility at Durham University. This station will be key to demonstrating the new turbulence mitigation techniques developed at CfAI and assessing their performance. This will involve various practical tasks to install design and install the station. There is significant freedom to develop and then test future turbulence mitigation or characterisation techniques using the group’s simulation tools, then testing on the new station.

Key responsibilities:

• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.   

This post is fixed term for two years to coincide with funding from the University to support the project.

The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 1st January 2027.

Working at Durham 

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University:

·         You’ll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year. 

·         We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).

·         No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance.

·         We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.

·         We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.

·         Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.

·         Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).

·         We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.

·         You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.

·         Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.

·         If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest-free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key component of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our Purpose and Values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive.

We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups.

If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application.

The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Leader status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role. 

Contact Information 

Department contact for academic-related enquiries 

Dr Andrew Reeves: andrew.p.reeves@durham.ac.uk

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application 

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email.  Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk 

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time.  We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).  

How to Apply  

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.  

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.  

Submitting your application 

We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What to Submit 

All applicants are asked to submit: 

·         A CV

·         A cover letter which details your experience, skills, and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the essential criteria within the person specification of the job description.

Next Steps 

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department. The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation to staff and students in the Department followed by an interview and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place over two days in or around late September. 

In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date. 

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data. When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

Person Specification 

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

1.    First or upper-second class degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science or Physics.

2.    A PhD (or be close to submission) in any of the above fields, or equivalent professional experience in a similar field.

Experience

3.    Experience in conducting high quality academic research.

4.    Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly ranked journals.

5.    Demonstrable ability to present research papers at international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists within the wider academic community.

6.    Experience in the simulation, design, assembly and/or testing of laboratory-based optical systems and experiments.

Skills

7.    Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.

8.    Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.

9.    Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

10.  Competence in written English and technical authoring.

11.  Scientific programming experience in the Python or Matlab languages.

Desirable Criteria

Experience

12.  Experience in the development of Free Space Optical Communications or Adaptive Optics systems

13.  Experience working in or closely with industrial partners to transfer research into a commercial environment

14.  Experience in writing research funding grant applications

15.  Experience in supervising PhD or Masters level students in research projects

Skills

16.  Demonstrate ability to plan and manage projects independently.