Job Title: Research Associate/Fellow (Molten Salt Electrolysis)

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM Role Profile Form

Job Title: Research Associate/Fellow (Molten salt electrolysis)

School/Department: Faculty of Engineering - Division of Energy and Sustainability

Salary: £25,013 - £36,661 per annum; depending on skills and experience (salary can progress beyond this point subject to performance) - (£28,132 minimum with relevant PhD)

Job Family and Level: Research and Teaching Level 4 CTG / Level 4

Contract Status: This post is available immediately and will be offered on a fixed- term contract until 30 November 2015.

Hours of Work: Full-time 36¼ hours per week

Location: University Park

Reporting to: Professor George Zheng Chen

Purpose of the Role:

To carry out experimental research to develop molten salt electrolysis based techniques for processing spent nuclear fuel.

The position is brought about through an EPSRC grant (EP/J000582/1) to develop a molten salt electrolysis process for the sustainable reduction of spent fuel vital in a closed loop nuclear energy cycle. The roles of the associate/fellow include

Main Responsibilities

1. Designing, manufacturing and operating various molten salt electrolyzers;

2. Characterisations of the electrolysis products for materials and fuel properties; 3. Preparation of research progress reports and scientific articles for publication;

4. Assisting other research activities in the field of the high temperature electrochemistry and also teaching.

5. Writing research reports and papers in order to disseminate research results and develop a track record of published research findings in international peer-reviewed journals.

6. Further disseminating results through invited or contributed oral and poster presentations at local, national and international meetings, conferences and seminars.

7. Presenting the research results at the project progress meetings.

8. Assisting in the co-ordination of the research and related administrative tasks, including liaising with internal and external project collaborators, and other stakeholders.

9. Assisting supervisor (Prof. George Chen) in investigating/broadening scope of fundamental understanding of ionic liquids and supercapacitors/supercapatteries in more general scientific and technical terms that are non-specific to sponsors/collaborators. 10. Assisting supervisor in management of research activities in the research team and also in funding

Recruitment application to internal and external sources.

This job description may be subject to revision following discussion with the person appointed and forms part of the contract of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience Essential Desirable Qualifications/ Hold (or shortly due to be awarded) a The PhD thesis is in the field of Education PhD degree in Chemistry, Chemical materials electrochemistry, particularly Engineering, Materials Science, or a in relation with molten salts at elevated related discipline. temperatures Skills/Training molten salt electrochemistry and the Electrochemical and materials analysis relevant reactor design techniques, e.g. cyclic voltammetry, ac impedance, cavity electrode, molten salt reference electrode, TGA, DSC, IR, XRD, SEM, TEM. Experience Research experience in molten salt Molten salt preparation and application electrolysis, product characterisation for electrochemical reduction of solid skills, reactor design, fabrication and metal oxides. Process oxide powders. testing Personal Attributes Self-motivated; Creative with high interest in research Ability to work both independently as and development of electrochemical well as within a team environment. technologies for materials, energy and Excellent verbal and written environment. communication skills.

Decision Making i) Taken independently by the role holder;  Planning general research programme and direction.  Making individual/team decisions about design and conduct of particular research methods experiments.  To assist in preparing applications for new research funding.  Maintenance and repair of equipment and apparatus.  Advice on consumable and small scale purchasing. ii) Taken in collaboration with others;  Collaborative research applications.  Direction of students/collaborators research.  Investigation and decisions about new apparatus/equipment for the group.  Publication decisions, papers, conference abstracts etc.  Proposals for grant application.  Strategy for long term research programme. iii) Referred to the appropriate line manager by the role holder  Wider research strategy of our research group  Purchase decisions <£1000.

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