Research Associate in Optical Spectroscopy of Battery Materials, University of Cambridge (Rao Group, Cavendish Laboratory)
Job Description
The University of Cambridge has a postdoc on the photophysics of battery materials in Professor Akshay Rao’s group. You will use optical spectroscopy and microscopy to watch ions and charges move in working materials. The post runs for 36 months. Apply by 1 November 2026.
At a glance
- Position: Research Associate, 1 post (reference KA51428)
- Where: Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, West Cambridge, UK
- Group leader: Professor Akshay Rao
- Pay: £37,694-£46,049 a year as Research Associate; Research Assistant pay if the PhD is not yet awarded
- Term: 36 months, from 4 January 2027 or soon after
- Apply: 1 November 2026
What the battery photophysics postdoc involves
- Study battery materials and molecular systems with optical spectroscopy and optical microscopy
- Follow charge and ion transport, and structural and chemical changes while the materials operate
- Design and run experiments, and build optical instruments where needed
- Analyse large datasets, publish and present the results
- Work with partners in the UK and abroad, and help supervise student projects
Why this role matters
Most battery tests measure a whole cell. Optical microscopy can watch single particles charge and discharge in real time. That shows where a material fails. The Rao group is known for this approach, so the post is a strong step for anyone moving from spectroscopy into energy storage.
What University of Cambridge is looking for
- A PhD, awarded or nearly complete, in physics, chemistry, materials science or a related field
- Experimental experience in both optical spectroscopy and optical microscopy
- Experience with molecular materials or battery and electrochemical materials, optical instrument building and large-dataset analysis, which the web ad calls essential
- A good first degree (2.1 or equivalent), as stated in the further particulars
Pay and location
The web ad gives £33,002-£35,608 or £37,694-£46,049 a year. The further particulars give £37,694-£46,049 for a Research Associate (Grade 7) and £34,610 for a Research Assistant (Grade 5). The two documents differ on the Research Assistant pay. If your PhD is submitted but not yet awarded, you start as a Research Assistant and move up when it is awarded. The university requires all staff to be eligible to live and work in the UK. The ad does not say whether it sponsors visas.
How to apply
Apply through the official University of Cambridge page. The closing date is 1 November 2026. Use the Cambridge online application. Upload a full CV, a list of publications and the names of two referees, and quote KA51428. Read the further particulars (PDF) too.
See all our postdoc jobs, or browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: University of Cambridge
Official advertisement: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk
How to prepare for this application
- Read the Rao group's recent papers on optical imaging of battery particles
- Show a setup you built: lasers, detectors and how you aligned and tested it
- Bring an example of a large dataset you processed, with your code
- Explain one result from your PhD in terms a battery chemist would value
- Ask the group about visa sponsorship early, since UK work rights are required
About the University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209. The Cavendish Laboratory is its Department of Physics. It moved to its West Cambridge site in the 1970s.
