Postdoctoral Research Associate

Grade UE07: £41,064-48,822 per annum

School of Chemistry, College of Science & Engineering

Full Time: 35 hours per week, however we are open to considering part-time or flexible working patterns.

Fixed term contract: 24 months

The Opportunity:

Postdoctoral Research Associate (King-Smith Group)

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position to work under the supervision of Dr Emma King-Smith on a project funded by The Royal Society.

The successful candidate will work on syntheses to advance the next generation of AI-guided organic chemistry. You can find out more about the King-Smith Group at our website kingsmithgroup.com.

Applicants should have:

• A PhD in chemistry, computer science, or related discipline (or have submitted a PhD thesis prior to taking up the appointment).
• Possess a deep interest in chemical synthesis and the application of machine learning to synthesis.
• A proven track record of successfully completing research projects.
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills are essential.

Click to view a copy of the full Job Description (opens new browser tab)

How to apply

Please include the following documents in your application:

- Up to date CV with details of two referees

- Cover letter (max 1 page)

- Research summary (max 2 pages)

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page(opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also a Stonewall Proud Employer, actively promoting LGBTQ+ equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages(opens new browser tab)

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.

Please note if the role is offered on a part-time basis, it may result in sponsorship being dependent on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant or the role no longer meeting the Home Office’s criteria for sponsorship.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 12 November 2026.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

The School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh has a long and distinguished history. The first Chemistry Professor was appointed to the Chair in 1713 and the Edinburgh University student-led Chemical Society is regarded as the oldest chemical society in the world. The School is run as a single academic unit with approximately 160 staff (made up of academic, postdoctoral researchers and professional services staff) and 800 students (undergraduate, taught postgraduate and research students). Our vision is for all students and staff to harness their curiosity, utilising outstanding and diverse talents to pursue knowledge that can be used to tackle global challenges and improve people’s lives. Sustainability, collaboration and inclusion are at the heart of all our school activities.

School of Chemistry researchers deliver advances in both core and interdisciplinary chemistry across five overlapping themes: Catalysis & Synthesis, the Chemistry-Biology Interface, Functional Materials, Structural Chemistry & Chemical Dynamics, and Energy, Environment & Sustainable Chemistry. Our research underpins solutions to major global challenges including health, climate change, and sustainability, and we collaborate extensively with other disciplines and industry partners to take our research towards use. Our 55 group leaders work with a similar number of postdoctoral researchers and approx.155 research students to deliver £32M of current research grants across government, charity and industry funders, as well as a wide variety of public engagement activities.

Along with the University of St Andrews we formed EaStCHEM in 2004 to combine the research activities of two of Scotland’s leading schools of chemistry. Combined, we are the largest chemistry unit research in the UK. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), we were one of only three chemistry submissions to achieve a 100% “world-leading” score for our research environment. We hold a Silver Athena SWAN award, in recognition of excellence in science, engineering and technology employment in higher education relating to supporting women in Science. We are particularly proud of establishing the Christina Miller Fellowships, which have enabled seven talented postdoctoral researchers from under-represented groups to establish themselves as independent group leaders.

For further information about our school is available on the School of Chemistry Website (chem.ed.ac.uk) (opens in a new browser tab).