Contract: Fixed Term Appointment for 23 months commencing March 2008
Closing date: 8 February 2008
Applications are invited for a high-calibre Research Assistant to work in the Environmental Mineralogy group of the Natural History Museum. The position will involve providing analytical and experimental support for a variety of projects investigating different aspects of mineral/material reactivity, led by Dr. Éva Valsami-Jones.
The ideal applicant will have a BSc in Chemistry, Earth or Material Sciences and some relevant postgraduate experience (MSc or PhD). Experience with experimental and/or analytical laboratory work and computer literacy are essential. Experience of one or more of ICP-AES, ICP-MS, XRD, AFM, SEM, TEM, FTIR and chemical modelling are desirable, as is some track record in scientific publishing and/or report writing and web page development/maintenance. The position will be appropriate for a highly motivated individual with enthusiasm for science, who works well in a team environment and is also able to carry out tasks unsupervised.
The RA will work closely with a team of researchers within the highly successful and dynamic Environmental Mineralogy group. The group is currently holding a variety of funded projects from NERC, the Leverhulme Trust, EU FPVII as well as from industrial sources (water and nanotechnology industries). The main area of the group’s expertise is in mineral reactivity in environmental applications, and most of the current research is targeted at assessing the toxicity of nanomaterials and potential links with mineral/material reactivity.
The successful candidate will have access to excellent laboratory facilities and to analytical instrumentation such as ICP-AES, ICP-MS, XRD, AFM, SEM, TEM, FTIR. Some training in these methods will be given by experienced NHM staff, as necessary.
For a full job description and to apply online please visit the Natural History Museum website at www.nhm.ac.uk/jobs
Informal enquiries to Éva Valsami-Jones tel: 020 7942 5334 or e-mail: E.Valsami-Jones@nhm.ac.uk
