Department of Physics Jobs

The Isaac Science project is looking for a mathematician who is passionate about teaching and widening participation at university to join the Isaac team. The role holder will work as part of the Isaac team of physicists, mathematicians, chemists and biologists, to support students nationally in raising their attainment and making applications to research intensive universities. This is to be achieved through the Isaac Science free online platform and through a weekly programme of work and tutorials in our STEM SMART programme (https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/stem-smart) which will develop a deeper understanding of mathematics through problem-solving.

As the senior project mathematician, the role holder will be tasked with the production, quality assurance and delivery of online and print resources and take responsibility for developing a new mathematics stream within STEM SMART for students considering a maths degree. Some source materials will be provided as a starting point and catalyst and the role holder will work collaboratively with members of the Millennium Mathematics Project in Cambridge. They will develop resources that are fundamental to future study in mathematics from key stage 4 through to university with direction from the Director of Isaac Science. They will be required to deliver online tutorials to both large (~500) and small groups (10) of students as well as prepare and deliver in person lectures. The role holder will also work closely with teachers, delivering continuing professional development (in person and online) and will be expected to develop external communications and respond to questions.

It is essential that candidates have a degree in mathematics and desirable that they have a post-graduate qualification in mathematics or mathematics education. Experience of teaching at university level is highly desirable, and the successful applicant will have excellent mathematical problem-solving skills. They will also ideally have taught students at secondary to sixth form level (but need not necessarily have qualified teacher status or a PGCE) but must have detailed knowledge of the UK school curriculum and its content. It is vital that the role-holder has an excellent eye for detail and accuracy but can also deliver to tight timescales and work efficiently both as an individual and as a leader of a small team. Successful candidates will have excellent IT skills and it is desirable that they have experience of working with LaTeX, HTML, drawing packages such as Inkscape and video packages such as Camtasia.

The role is full-time and the role-holder will ideally be in post by the beginning of May 2026. We are open to job sharing for this role, for example, two people working 0.5 FTE. The length of the contract is to 31st January 2029 in the first instance with a potential extension (subject to funding).

Shortlisted candidates will be expected to complete a pre-interview task and an in-person task on the day of their interview. Interviews are scheduled to take place in the week commencing 9th March 2026.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 January 2029 in the first instance.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to David Taylor at dst28@cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference KA48006 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

A position exists for a Research Assistant/Research Associate in High Energy Particle Physics Theory and Phenomenology. The aim of the role is to work in theoretical particle physics, developing cutting-edge, high-precision calculations in the Standard Model relevant for LHC phenomenology and future colliders. The role holder is expected to have excellent knowledge of theoretical particle physics with particular emphasis on developing and/or using high-precision calculations for LHC processes.

The successful candidate will hold (or be close to obtaining) a PhD in Theoretical Physics with a proven track record in precision calculations for hadron colliders. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in NLO, NNLO or N3LO calculations, calculations of multiloop/multileg amplitudes and matching parton showers with higher order calculations, heavy flavour physics, as demonstrated by publications in major journals. Solid computational skills are essential, and the successful candidate will also have proven organisational, communication and team working skills.

Please ensure you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) together with a list of publications and a covering letter including a 2-4 page summary of your research interests and future plans. Please also provide the contact details of at least two referees. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Professor Alex Mitov at adm74@cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference KA48061 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

The ambient processing cluster tool is a £ 2.6 million interconnected glovebox system with modules for inert deposition and processing of functional materials. It is part of the Cambridge section of the Sir Henry Royce Institute and the Collaborative R&D Environment for Physics (CORDE) of the Cavendish Laboratory. It is located in the Maxwell Centre on the West Cambridge site and is configured as a custom-built tool which comprises 10 different modules, each of which is equipped with specific processing equipment, including evaporation system, different printing and solution processing equipment, pulsed laser deposition as well as testing, packaging and encapsulation tools. The facility is run as a user facility serving users from different University departments, the other Royce partner universities, other UK universities as well as industrial companies.

The role of the technician is to maintain, run and develop the ambient processing cluster tool as a small research facility. This includes ensuring that the tool performs technically to its full potential but also engaging with a wide range of academic and industrial users and supporting them in their process development to ensure that it provides maximum scientific benefit to the materials science community in the UK and that it is operated financially in a fully sustainable manner.

Candidates should be educated to degree level/level 6 vocational qualification or an equivalent level of practical experience with specific experience in functional materials deposition and processing. The position is available as soon as possible.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

If you have any questions about this vacancy please contact Professor Henning Sirringhaus (hs220@cam.ac.uk). If you have any questions about the application process, please contact hr@phy.cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference KA47891 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Are you seeking an exciting opportunity in which to develop your career in purchasing within higher education sector in a world-leading University?

The Department of Physics is seeking a highly motivated individual to undertake purchasing and financial duties within our Finance Team, providing proactive support to the Department including academic and research staff.

Candidates will ideally need to have previous purchasing/ accounting experience, excellent organisational and communication skills and be IT literate. The Department will accept applications from candidates without experience working in purchasing/ finance environment.

This role has a wide range of responsibilities, including purchasing, managing departmental finances, conducting routine and ad-hoc financial reporting, providing financial training, and assisting with administrative services. You will be expected to work proactively with academics, researchers, and departmental budget holders, building strong and effective working relationships to ensure efficient and appropriate processes.

The postholder will be involved in all aspects of purchasing and finance, including procure-to-pay, dealing with purchasing and travel queries, import-export, general ledger and research grant management and reporting, as well as facilities charging, invoice processing, managing expense claims, and overseeing credit card expenditure.

It is vital that you possess excellent inter-personal skills to be able to work well with a Finance team and manage good working relationships with a wide variety of people from all over the world, in order to gain an understanding of the needs of academics and research staff and deliver a responsive service to them. You will be involved in contributing to continuous improvements in the Department's financial administration through close cooperation with the central Finance team.

The Department has recently moved to a state-of-the-art, multi-million-pound new national research facility. This is an exciting and challenging time for the Department, and we would like a highly motivated individual with a positive attitude towards change and development to join us.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be addressed to Niall Taylor, Departmental Procurement manager nct24@cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference KA47933 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 months in the first instance.

The Physics for Sustainable Chemistry group is seeking a highly motivated and engaged Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to join a vibrant, interdisciplinary team working at the forefront of nanophotonics and photocatalysis. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research aimed at harnessing optical energy for sustainable chemical transformations.

The PDRA will investigate how optical energy can be exploited at the shortest possible length scales by leveraging the nanoscale focusing capabilities of plasmonic nanoparticles. This work will involve both experimental and theoretical approaches to understand and control light–matter interactions at the nanoscale. In collaboration with a diverse team of physicists and chemists, the PDRA will contribute to the design and development of novel optical nanomaterials capable of broad-spectrum light utilisation, with the goal of driving efficient and selective chemical reactions.

The position is based in the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge, where the PDRA will have access to state-of-the-art optical laboratories and advanced nanoscale characterisation facilities. The role also includes close collaboration with the Reisner Lab in the Department of Chemistry, focusing on evaluating photocatalytic performance, including reaction selectivity and product yields.

Salary Ranges: Research Associate: £37,694 -£46,049 (Grade 7) Research Assistant (if PhD is not yet awarded): £34,610 (Grade 5)

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant moving to Research Associate (Grade 7) upon confirmation of your PhD award.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter, in the upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.

If you have any questions about this vacancy please contact Dr Bart de Nijs (bd355@cam.ac.uk). If you have any questions about the application process, please contact hr@phy.cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference KA47876 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

The world-renowned Cavendish Laboratory is seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated student who enjoys working as part of a team to undertake a PhD in the NanoPhotonics Group (NP) led by Prof Jeremy J Baumberg, FRS (https://www.np.phy.cam.ac.uk/), as part of a prestigious European collaboration on building DNA origami for nanomachinery.

DNA origami uses nanotechnologies to fold DNA strands into rigid 100nm-scale building blocks, to which nanoparticles and molecules can be carefully attached. We will turn these into nanomachines which can do mechanical work, long a dream of science fiction, for instance for implantable biodevices in healthcare, chemical remediation, or low cost sensors. One promising direction is to integrate functional polymer strands into these DNA devices, which allows them to respond to light, heat, or chemical environment. In this project you would design, construct, test, model, and develop DNA-polymer hybrid machines capable of exerting large forces. We have recently managed to construct these hybrids in proof-of-principle experiments. Our recent progress opens up many intriguing opportunities to make active metamaterials, such as incorporating functional nanoparticles. You would push this work into completely new areas. You would combine wet chemistry nano-assembly, nano-characterisation, with building optical rigs to allow you to watch single DNA devices operating under illumination.

You will work as part of a larger team spread across Cambridge, as well as at LMU in Munich and the University of Heidelberg, who will provide different opportunities for you to develop. You would gain experience across a wide range of interdisciplinary areas including nano-assembly, optics, colloidal chemistry, and simulations across physics, chemistry, and engineering.

Applicants should have, or be expected to gain, a high (1st or 2:1) honours degree in Physics or Chemistry.

For any enquiries about the project please e-mail Prof Jeremy J Baumberg (jjb12@cam.ac.uk) or Prof Ulrich Keyser (ufk20@cam.ac.uk).

Please quote reference KA47823 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics invites applications for a University Assistant/Associate Professor position in Experimental High Energy Physics (Collider Physics).

The appointment will strengthen the group's existing international reputation in experimental particle physics on the LHCb experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider, and participate in future initiatives in the field (https://www.hep.phy.cam.ac.uk/LHCb).

The successful candidate will have a world-class research record in experimental particle physics and is expected to play a leading role in the group's activities on the LHCb experiment, including physics exploitation and/or the ongoing upgrade programme. Candidates may bring expertise that is more physics-analysis-focused or hardware/technology-focused, provided that it offers a complementary direction to the group's existing strengths and contributes to the breadth and vitality of its research portfolio. Engagement with future accelerator or non-accelerator-based particle physics initiatives is also desirable.

The Assistant/Associate Professorship will be based in the Department of Physics in the High Energy Physics Group, located in the Ray Dolby Centre Building of the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge. Applicants should have an undergraduate degree and a PhD in physics (or a cognate discipline), a strong record of relevant research, show evidence of research leadership (or potential to develop it) and the ability to attract research funding. They must show evidence of enthusiasm and ability to teach a wide range of physics courses successfully at both undergraduate and masters level.

Applicants should submit the following documents with their application:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV);

• A full list of publications to which a significant contribution has been made. Please highlight up to 5 papers where you have made the most significant personal contributions, with up to 4 lines of text for each such paper;

• A research proposal no longer than 3 pages, including a brief description (of not more than half a page) of how your research plans might fit with existing activities at the Department of Physics and the wider University;

• A one-page statement on your approach to teaching and how you believe you can contribute to the Department's teaching programme at undergraduate and graduate level;

• The contact details of three referees.

The deadline for applications is 31st January 2026. Shortlisted applicants will be informed towards the middle of February 2026. They will be invited to visit Cambridge during March 2026 for informal discussions with faculty, and to give research presentations. A second visit will be arranged towards the end of March 2026 or April 2026, when candidates will give a teaching presentation, as well as attend for the formal interview.

The position is available from 1st October 2026. There is some flexibility on the start date, which can be negotiated at the appointment stage.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

For informal enquiries please contact Professor Tina Potter, (cp594@cam.ac.uk)

Please quote reference KA47784 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Are you seeking an exciting opportunity in which to develop your finance career in a world-leading academic department and University?

The Department of Physics is seeking a highly motivated and professional individual to undertake financial duties within our Finance Team, providing proactive support to the department including academic and research staff.

Candidates will be educated to HND, HNC level 4/5 vocational qualification (or equivalent level of practical experience) and have AAT Intermediate or equivalent (or working towards). Candidates will also need to have previous accounting experience, excellent organisational and communication skills and be IT literate.

This role has a wide range of responsibilities, including assisting with administrative services, managing departmental finances, conducting routine and ad-hoc financial reporting, and providing financial training. You will be expected to work proactively with academics, researchers, and departmental budget holders, building strong and effective working relationships to ensure efficient and appropriate processes.

The postholder will be involved in all aspects of finance, including general ledger and research grant management and reporting, as well as purchasing, facilities charging, invoice processing, managing expense claims, and overseeing credit card expenditure.

It is vital that you possess excellent inter-personal skills to be able to work well with a Finance team and manage good working relationships with a wide variety of people from all over the world, in order to gain an understanding of the needs of academics and research staff and deliver a responsive financial service to them. You will be involved in contributing to continuous improvements in the Department's financial administration through close cooperation with the central Finance team.

The Department has recently moved to a state-of-the-art, multi-million pound new building. This is an exciting and challenging time for the Department, and we would like a highly motivated individual with a positive attitude towards change and development to join us.

The Department is committed to supporting training and development opportunities such as AAT accreditation.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be addressed to Paul Game, Departmental Finance Adviser pjg63@cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference KA47758 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 30 November 2027 in the first instance.

A position exists for a Research Associate in Data Processing Pipelines for the SKA radio telescopes in the Cavendish Astrophysics Group, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge.

The position is funded by the STFC Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Construction Project, an international effort to build the worlds largest radio telescopes. The SKA will provide unprecedented sensitivity and survey speed, transforming our understanding of the Universe from the formation of the first stars and galaxies to the search for life beyond Earth. The successful candidate will join the Cambridge SKA team working on data processing, software development, and system integration for the SKA Science Data Processor (SDP).

The role involves contributing to the development and implementation of data processing pipelines that transform raw telescope data into science-ready products. This includes developing and testing software for data ingestion, calibration, imaging, and quality control. The post holder will also help support the integration of these pipelines into the wider SKA software ecosystem, collaborating closely with international partners and industry as part of the SAFe Agile Release Train (ART) framework.

Applicants should hold (or be close to completing) a PhD in astrophysics, radio astronomy, physics, computer science, or a related field. A strong background in scientific programming (Python, C/C++) and experience with software development for data-intensive systems are essential. Familiarity with radio astronomy, aperture synthesis, or high-performance computing will be considered advantageous.

The role would particularly suit candidates interested in Big Data and Exascale computing and in gaining experience at the interface of scientific research and large-scale software engineering. The post holder will work within a collaborative team environment, contributing to software delivery milestones and participating in regular agile development cycles. Up to 20% of the post holders time may be dedicated to independent research, ideally related to SKA Key Science Projects such as 21-cm cosmology.

The successful candidate will be based at the Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0US, under the supervision of Professor Eloy de Lera Acedo.

Salary Ranges: Research Associate: £37,694 - £46,049 (Grade 7) Research Assistant (if PhD not yet awarded): £34,610 (Grade 5)

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter, in the upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.

If you have any questions about this vacancy please contact Prof. Eloy de Lera Acedo (ed330@cam.ac.uk). If you have any questions about the application process, please contact hr@phy.cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference KA47709 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

The Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, is looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Stores/Yard Assistant with excellent customer service skills, to join a small team responsible for the smooth running of the Stores.

Based on the West Cambridge site, the Cavendish has recently moved to its new home, the Ray Dolby Centre, which marks the start of a new era for physics at Cambridge. This new state of the art facility was purpose built for our world leading research programmes.

The main duties of this role will include but not be limited to:

customer / counter service;

receiving goods-in and maintaining stock levels;

academic/student liaison;

maintenance of the inventory system;

assisting with stock taking;

assisting with unloading of deliveries and upkeep of delivery yard.

The successful candidate will have excellent working knowledge of a busy Stores, including stock management and goods-in, is well organised and enjoys interacting with a wide range of people.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be sent to Kevin Gleeson at kjg35@cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference KA47600 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 24 months in the first instance.

A position exists for a Research Associate in 21-cm Cosmology within the Cavendish Astrophysics Group at the Department of Physics, University of Cambridge.

The role is funded by the Radio Experiment for the Analysis of Cosmic Hydrogen (REACH) programme, an ambitious international effort to detect the global 21-cm signal from the early Universe, a faint imprint of the first stars and galaxies. Measuring this signal requires exquisite control over instrumental effects and advanced data analysis to separate the cosmological signal from bright astrophysical foregrounds and systematic contaminants. REACH combines precision hardware design with novel calibration strategies to push the frontier of what is achievable in low-frequency radio cosmology.

The successful candidate will play a central role in both the calibration of the REACH instrument and the analysis of its data, working at the interface of hardware and analysis. They will develop, test, and implement advanced radiometer calibration techniques and apply state-of-the-art statistical methods to extract cosmological information. The role will involve close collaboration with the wider REACH consortium of engineers, observers, and theorists, ensuring that instrument characterisation and data analysis advance hand in hand.

Applicants should hold (or be close to completing) a PhD in astrophysics, radio astronomy, physics, or a related field. The ideal candidate will have: Strong expertise in:

• Data analysis, including RFI mitigation and foreground modelling;
• Radio astronomy instrumentation and radiometry;
• Calibration pipelines and instrumental systematics;
• Programming skills in Python, C/C++ or equivalent, and the ability to handle complex datasets.
  

Experience in electromagnetic simulations, radiometer design, or low-frequency calibration techniques would be advantageous. Strong communication and collaboration skills are essential.

The post holder will be based at the Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0US, UK, working under the supervision of Professor Eloy de Lera Acedo.

Salary Ranges: Research Associate: £37,694 -£46,049 (Grade 7) Research Assistant (if PhD not yet awarded): £34,610 (Grade 5)

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant moving to Research Associate (Grade 7) upon confirmation of your PhD award.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter, in the upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.

If you have any questions about this vacancy please contact Prof. Eloy de Lera Acedo (ed330@cam.ac.uk). If you have any questions about the application process, please contact hr@phy.cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference KA47583 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Applications are invited for a dynamic and motivated Instrument Scientist to lead and develop advanced experimental capabilities and lead a shared research platform within the Department of Physics.

Based in the Cavendish Laboratory, the role supports a shared characterisation facility forming part of the Collaborative Research and Development Environment (CORDE). The facility enables cutting-edge research across the physical sciences, providing high-performance instrumentation and measurement platforms for both academic and industrial partners.

The successful candidate will:

develop, maintain, and optimise advanced research instrumentation for precision measurements;

support and train users from diverse scientific backgrounds;

ensure safe and reliable operation of complex experimental systems;

contribute to the design and implementation of new experimental methods and facility upgrades; and

collaborate with researchers to deliver high-quality scientific outcomes across a range of disciplines.

Your strong technical problem-solving skills, hands-on experimental experience, and ability to communicate effectively with researchers will be key to providing an exceptional level of support and innovation within the facility.

Together with other CORDE characterisation laboratories, the post contributes to a world-class research environment supporting interdisciplinary discovery and technological development.

This position offers a unique opportunity to shape and expand advanced instrumentation capabilities at Cambridge, supporting a vibrant research community at the forefront of materials and device physics.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to David Ward at characterisation.manager@cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference KA47582 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

The Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe and the University of Cambridge are committed to widening participation in postgraduate students at the University of Cambridge. Research within the Centre aims to develop a deeper understanding of life, its emergence, and its distribution in the Universe by addressing four questions:

What are the chemical pathways which led to the origins of life that are compatible with benign conditions for life in different planetary environments?

How do we characterise the environments on Earth and other planets that could act as the cradle of prebiotic chemistry and life?

What observational facilities and methods will allow investigation of bodies beyond the Solar System, the remote sensing of their atmospheres and the search for signatures of geological and biological evolution?

How can philosophical and mathematical concepts refine our understanding of what we mean by life, leading to new interdisciplinary collaborations and modes of scientific enquiry?

We have a fully funded PhD studentship available for home (UK) students starting October 2026. This studentship will cover fees and stipend for home students at the UKRI + LCLU uplift of £1,000 per year for 4 years and research cost support will be provided.

Eligibility is reserved for applicants who meet at least one of the following criteria:

have been in receipt of free school meals at secondary school;

be in the first generation of your family to study at undergraduate level;

have been a young carer under the age of 18 or have/ had caring responsibilities during your undergraduate study (providing unpaid support for a family who has a physical or mental health condition, or misuses substances);

have entered university at undergraduate level from a care background or as a Foyer resident;

be estranged from your parents/guardians;

receive/ received the maximum Maintenance Loan for undergraduate study;

have refugee status.

To apply go to the University of Cambridge postgraduate admissions portal: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/ and note in the applying for funding section that you are eligible for LCLU funding. The materials required for your application will depend on the department of the primary PhD supervisor, details available here: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/how-do-i-apply. The deadlines for applications vary with the department, so please check what the relevant deadline is with the relevant PhD Supervisor, since some departments have earlier deadlines, such as 2nd December 2025. All applications will have to be in by 11:59 pm GMT 7th January 2026.

The list of research proposals 2025 can be seen here: https://www.lclu.cam.ac.uk/research-proposals-2025 The list of projects is not exhaustive, and applicants are encouraged to approach any of our supervisors with their own project ideas. If you would like to propose your own research topic, you can also browse through the list of supervisors with research interests to find those that particularly interest you. (https://www.lclu.cam.ac.uk/supervisors). You should contact prospective supervisors before applying, to further explore your mutual interests, and to get additional advice and information.

Participating Departments at the University of Cambridge are: Cavendish Laboratory, Institute of Astronomy, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Earth Sciences, Department of Zoology, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, Faculty of Divinity, and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 4 years in the first instance.

For further details please visit: https://www.lclu.cam.ac.uk/studentship-opportunities/lclu-phd-studentships

For any enquiries, please contact: admin@lclu.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference KA47577 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The Department of Physics (Cavendish Laboratory) is one of the best-performing departments at the University and in the UK. The Cavendish Laboratory conducts cutting edge physics research and high-level teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate students. We achieve excellence by working to provide an inclusive, safe, and healthy work environment as well as recruiting the best people to carry out and support teaching and research.

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic safety practitioner to join our small team as deputy to the Departmental Safety Manager (DSM). The role holder will assist the DSM in supporting academics, researchers, managers, staff, students, and others to understand and fulfil their health and safety responsibilities. The role holder will also report on health and safety to the Head of Department.

Under the leadership of the DSM, you will be providing guidance on safety management and risk control, supported by people with expertise in managing risks from biological materials, chemicals, and radiation. As the Department is large with a variety of significant risks, we are seeking someone with demonstrable experience of managing health and safety in a multi-site, multi-disciplinary environment, with a good track record of improving safety systems and culture. There is scope for development and career progression in the department for an enthusiastic, hardworking individual, and training will be provided.

You will be educated preferably to degree level or equivalent in a scientific discipline. You will also have demonstrable knowledge of health and safety management systems and standards, a proven track record of dealing with all aspects of H&S, experience of providing training and coaching, and an understanding of how to successfully merge good safety practice with good research and teaching. Experience of working in a scientific research environment would be an advantage but is not essential.

You will be able to communicate well with all levels of staff and students, deal with changing demands, solve problems, and organize your work priorities based on risks. You will be keen to learn, self-motivated and able to work well independently and as part of a small team, taking the lead in risk control where necessary.

The successful applicant will be required to complete training provided by the University Safety Office and become fully familiar with the significant risk issues in the Department.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Geoff Elliott at gde26@phy.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference KA47543 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

The Maxwell Centre, hosted by the Cavendish Laboratory, is the hub for academia-industry interactions. It serves several departments across the Schools of Physical Sciences and Technology, bringing in external partnerships with industry. The Maxwell Centre offers Impulse, a 3 - month hybrid programme followed by alumni Masterclasses, mentoring and pitch event as a catalyst for both entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, with a sharp focus on the development of high-potential technology innovation into a commercial proposition and prioritising "high potential" business cases. Since 2017, Impulse alumni have raised over £300M in funding and investments.

We are now inviting applications for the role of Programme Coordinator to support the Impulse Programme team, based at the Maxwell Centre. The role will undertake administrative and operational responsibilities to ensure the smooth, efficient, and successful implementation of the Impulse programme. The Programme Coordinator will lead project coordination, oversee the planning and detailed execution of logistics, and effective administration of the programme. This position involves working within a small Impulse team and the Maxwell Centre, as well as working collaboratively in the delivery of the programme with short-term staff, external consultants, liaising with academic ⁄ professional stakeholders from the departments of the University and over 200 entrepreneurs, investors, business experts, and innovation community.

We are seeking a highly organized, dynamic, and effective communicator who liaises with participants and entrepreneurial contributors to address logistics, support marketing and social media engagement, and assist with newsletter coordination while providing administrative support as needed. Excellent attention to detail and a proactive approach are essential to ensuring an excellent experience for all programme stakeholders. The successful candidate should be open to learning, capable of planning, organizing, and prioritizing programme tasks - including marketing activities - to meet short-term and long-term objectives. The ability to remain calm under pressure, be flexible, and troubleshoot solutions is required to accommodate project delivery around the busy and changing schedules of all stakeholders involved.

The appointment is available immediately, with initial funding until 31 July 2026, renewable subject to funding.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcome and can be sent via email to Neil Baxter, Programme Manager at impulse@maxwell.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference KA47475 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

The School of Physical Sciences invites applications for a Teaching Associate in the field of Atomistic Simulation and High Performance Computing to be held in the Department of Physics. This position has been established to support the expansion of the cohort size of the MPhil in Scientific Computing https://mphil.csc.cam.ac.uk/ The MPhil is a full-time course which provides education on high performance computing and advanced algorithms for numerical simulation at continuum and atomic-scale levels.

The successful candidate will provide support and contribute to the atomistic stream and the high performance computing teaching schedule and will have extensive experience in those areas. You will be expected to support the MPhil primarily by: the delivery of course modules; the supervision, assessment and examination of modules; the provision, supervision and assessment of written assignments and research projects across a range of atomistic and HPC topics.

For your application to be considered please submit:

A covering letter;

A curriculum vitae;

The names and email addresses of three referees who are familiar with your work whom the University of Cambridge can contact for references;

An experience statement of up to two pages setting out your past work in scientific computing related to atomistic modelling and high performance computing, and how it relates to the skills required for this position;

A teaching statement (no more than one A4 page) setting out your approach to teaching and the contributions they can make to the MPhil programme in Scientific Computing.

If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.

If you have any questions on the application process, please contact hr@phy.cam.ac.uk.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 1 year in the first instance.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Professor Nikos Nikiforakis (nn10005@cam.ac.uk).

Please quote reference KA47270 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background for this vacancy, as people from these backgrounds are currently underrepresented at this level in our Faculty.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 30 June 2027 in the first instance.

A research assistant/associate is sought to work on the development of efficient and highly resilient solar cells for space applications within the Department of Physics under the supervision of Prof. Louise Hirst.

In this role the successful candidate will develop new process methodologies to fabricate ultra-thin III-V photovoltaic devices in the state-of-the-art Cavendish Nanofabrication facility at the Ray Dolby Centre, the new home for Physics in Cambridge. This will include designing new process flows for the fabrication of high performance, larger area devices, resilient to the hostile conditions found in space environments, with a focus on uniformity and reproducibility.

They will use techniques including quantum efficiency, light and dark IV to characterise performance of fabricated devices and correlate with device and optical simulation to identify design limitations.

They will undertake particle radiation testing of devices and use space environment simulation tools to estimate performance for technologically important mission profiles.

The successful candidate will hold (or be close to obtaining) a PhD in Physics or a closely related field with a proven track record in pursuing independent scientific investigation.

Preference will be given to candidates with specific experience in simulation, fabrication and characterization solar cells based on III-V material systems. A demonstrated ability to write reports, present results and contribute to academic papers and experience managing own workload are also desirable.

Proven organisational, communication and team working skills are also desirable.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter, in the upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.

If you have any questions about this vacancy please contact Prof Louise Hirst (lh619@cam.ac.uk). If you have any questions about the application process, please contact hr@phy.cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference KA47366 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

The world-renowned Cavendish Laboratory is seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated student who enjoys working as part of a team to undertake a PhD in the NanoPhotonics Group (NP) led by Professor Jeremy J Baumberg, FRS (https://www.np.phy.cam.ac.uk/), as part of UK targeted collaboration on 3D Metamaterials.

Metamaterials provide emergent properties by combining nano-scale building blocks to elicit properties far beyond simple averaging over the component materials involved, instead giving exciting opportunities for new functionalities that are not found in natural materials. However there are very few examples of them being yet practical, because of the difficulty of realistic scale-up. Potential applications are for energy absorption and harvesting, mechanical intelligence, enhanced sensors, anti-fouling protection and much more.

Going beyond existing work using expensive fabrication of planar 2D metamaterials, this project explores routes to use nano-assembly to create 3D metamaterials, using a variety of building blocks from noble metal nanoparticles, to DNA nanostructures and precision colloidal architectures. We have previously explored many intriguing opportunities to make actively tuning metamaterials, such as incorporating electro-chromic or thermo-responsive molecules, and you would push this work into completely new areas. You would build new nano-optical rigs to probe their properties, as well as develop ways to manipulate and advance the nano-assembly processes. You would also be involved in scale-up on roll-to-roll pre-pilot kit, to explore applications for these advanced materials.

You would work as part of a larger team spread across a number of sites including Warwick and KCL London, who will provide different opportunities for you to develop the research. You would be also involved in the new UK Metamaterials Hub in which we are playing a leading role.

You would gain experience across a wide range of interdisciplinary areas including nano-assembly, optics, colloidal chemistry, and simulations across physics, chemistry, and engineering.

Applicants should have, or be expected to gain, a high (1st or 2:1) honours degree in Physics or Chemistry.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

For any enquiries about the project please e-mail Prof Jeremy J Baumberg (jjb12@cam.ac.uk).

Please quote reference KA47350 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The Cavendish Laboratory is the home of the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge and 2025 marks the start of a new era for us as we moved into our brand new home, the Ray Dolby Centre. This state of the art facility is purpose-built for our world-leading research programmes and will provide National Facilities for all HEIs and commercial partners, sharing equipment and expertise.

The Department currently holds around 345 active research grants with a total value of £155 million and we are inviting applications for the role of Research Grants Administrator to join an expanding team at this very exciting time.

The successful candidate will be highly motivated and enthusiastic and will be expected to develop a close working relationship with Principal Investigators and other departmental staff at all levels, and also the Research Operations Office to ensure smooth management of all processes and compliance with necessary regulations. You will join a small team who provide a comprehensive and efficient research grant management service to the Department, through every stage of the grant management process. You will be expected to support the audit process and help maximise future funding opportunities.

This is a varied post which requires excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, alongside the ability to prioritise and to work under pressure to meet deadlines. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as well as a proactive approach to problem solving. You should also be able to demonstrate advanced knowledge of Research Grants Administration with excellent IT skills.

Interviews are scheduled to take place on Tuesday 14 October 2025.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal inquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Sarah Hedger, dda@phy.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference KA47315 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position available initially for 2 years within a joint EPSRC-NSF funded grant on Nanoscale spin entanglement and chemistry, 'NanoSPINEC'. Using nanophotonic cavities, the NanoSPINEC project aims to achieve the first room-temperature measurements of spin states at the single-molecule level, leveraging them to track the formation and decay of quantum correlations in exciton singlet fission (SF) and to establish the first chemical Bell inequalities through optically-detected magnetic resonance (ODMR).

The candidate will join a dynamic and diverse team that values collaboration. The role holder will develop new experiments and analysis and drive the NanoSPINEC project. The candidate will be supported by an exciting new collaboration spanning three areas of the Cavendish Laboratories: the NanoPhotonics Centre (Dr Rakesh Arul), the Optoelectronics Group (Rao), and the AMOP group (Gangloff). For recent work see np.phy.cam.ac.uk, rao.oe.phy.cam.ac.uk, and qeg.phy.cam.ac.uk/. The NSF partner on the US is the University of California San Diego (PI: Prof. Joel Yuen-Zhou), and the project will involve close collaboration and travel to theorist collaborators there.

Candidates will have, or be close to obtaining, a strong physics or chemistry PhD or a related discipline, with experience in measuring optical dynamics on the nanoscale and/or optically-detected magnetic resonance. In addition to proven experimental skills the candidate should ideally have experience in working across disciplinary boundaries. They should expect to be involved in both construction of new optical spectroscopy rigs using lasers as well as some sample preparation. Experience in the field of plasmonics or metamaterials or molecular emitters would be helpful, as well as with quantum control of nanoscale systems.

The UK NanoPhotonics Centre (http://www.np.phy.cam.ac.uk) collaborates widely across the University of Cambridge including the Departments of Chemistry, Engineering, Physics of Medicine, Cancer Research UK, Chemical Engineering, Materials as well as many international partners, industry, with several major EU programmes.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant moving to Research Associate (Grade 7) upon confirmation of your PhD award.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquires may be addressed to Dr Rakesh Arul (ra554@cam.ac.uk, further project details in photonicsarul.github.io).

Please quote reference KA47296 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.