Oppenheimer Research Fellow

Applications are invited for an Ernest Oppenheimer Early Career Research Fellowship to be held at Cambridge University in Colloid Science, as broadly interpreted within the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering. These Fellowships are intended to provide an opportunity for independent research, though the holders usually work in collaboration with an established research group.

Applications are encouraged from researchers who will have completed a PhD by 1 October 2027 and have normally spent not more than three years in post-doctoral research after a PhD viva or defence by 1 October 2027. If more than three years has been spent in post-doctoral research, please provide a justification, explaining the circumstances.

The post will be based in Cambridge in an appropriate department. Tenure is for three years commencing from 1 October 2027. The stipend range is £38,448- £46,970.a. Automatic annual increments will go up to Single Salary Spine point 48 only. A contribution may be made towards relocation expenses, and up to £25k p.a. will be made available for research expenses. The Oppenheimer Fellowship cannot be held concurrently with any other paid position, or position which would normally attract a stipend.

(a) Curriculum Vitae (2 pages maximum) including academic career, qualifications (with class of degree and position in course as x/y), any relevant teaching experience, list of papers published (only papers with a DOI may be quoted). The list of papers should give the titles of the papers, the complete author list and the name of the journal, and should be numbered, not bulleted.

(b) Two statements, describing respectively your previous and current research (1 page maximum), and the proposed research programme, including its relevance to broad colloid science (3 pages maximum).

(c) A completed Head of Department Written Approval form (completed by the Head of the Department in Cambridge in which you hope to work).

Please ensure that uploaded documents are submitted in a font no smaller than 11 pt. Applications exceeding the specified length (CV, including the list of publications, 2 pages; previous and current research, 1 page; proposed research, 3 pages) or in a font size smaller than 11 point will not be accepted. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, they will not be considered as part of the application. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please ensure that you clearly explain in your application how your research proposal relates to colloid science.

Please include in the online application form, the names, addresses and e-mail addresses of two persons (only) who are willing to give a confidential assessment of your research to the Committee of Management; at least one of these should be an external referee. Please ask these two referees to write directly to the Acting Secretary at E.O.Fund@admin.cam.ac.uk by the closing date of 5 January 2027.

The References section of the online application form gives an option regarding the stage at which referees are contacted. Please note that, as outlined above, both references need to be sent to E.O.Fund@admin.cam.ac.uk by the closing date of 5 January 2027.

Please note that a security check may be required, depending on your research area.

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

The Committee of Management hopes to make a decision by the middle of February 2027. The decision of the Committee of Management will be final. It is not possible, given the number of applications received, to provide unsuccessful candidates with feedback.

A list of projects recently funded is available. To request this list, please write to E.O.Fund@admin.cam.ac.uk.

Informal enquiries may be directed to E.O.Fund@admin.cam.ac.uk or to the Business and Operations Manager at the Department in which you hope to work.

Please quote reference LA51655 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.