Research Assistant in Design and applications of LCE (Fixed Term)

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

Applications are invited for a Research Assistant (RA) position investigating liquid crystalline polymers and elastomers at the Cavendish Laboratory. The aim of the project is to develop new polymeric materials with anisotropic properties, and explore their applications in damping and adhesion.

The work will be funded by the ERC Synergy grant 101167171: "Atypical Liquid Crystal Elastomers" (ALCEMIST) and represents a close collaboration with University of Luxembourg and Nova University of Lisbon. The successful candidate will join the research group of Professor Eugene M. Terentjev (~emt1000), and the overall ALCEMIST team (alcemist.eu). We are looking for a researcher, assisting in the lab with projects to do with producing new LCE materials and testing vibration and sound attenuation. Experience in polymer chemistry and the structure - property relationships of responsive polymer networks - and/or - machine learning and AI training in polymer/materials science is a significant bonus.

Key duties and responsibilities expected from the successful candidate will include, but not be limited to, assisting in the physical-chemistry lab work, building internal and external contacts, planning the use of research resources as appropriate. For further information regarding duties and responsibilities of this role please see the Further Particulars.

This position is available from February 2027.

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

Application closing date: 20 December 2026.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Professor Terentjev at emt1000@cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference KA51626 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.

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