Job Description

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Salary: 24,961 per annum

Contract Type: Fixed-Term, 12 months

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours

Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus Didcot,

OX11 0QX

Closing Date: Sunday, 19th October 2025

Interview Date: Dec 2025 / Jan 2026

Start Date: September 2026

Within STFC, ISIS is a world-leading facility for scientific research using neutron scattering and muon spectroscopy, with a strong scientific user programme and extensive global links. We support a national and international community of more than 2000 scientists who are conducting research into subjects ranging from life sciences, clean energy, and the environment, through to nanotechnology, materials engineering, and IT, as well as fundamental physics and chemistry investigations.


The Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) Group at ISIS operates four neutron scattering diffractometers in close collaboration with the Support Laboratories Group. The latter hosts a suite of facilities including chemistry, materials characterisation and biology laboratories for scientists to prepare and examine their samples complementarily to their SANS studies. Amongst the characterisation facilities, rheology is an important technique to evaluate the flow and deformation of soft materials. The mechanical properties thus determined are a direct manifestation of the underlying structural changes, especially at the length scales of interest to SANS. Therefore, Flow-SANS studies are essential to investigate the structure-property relationships in soft materials. While we have established a portfolio of shear-flow-based SANS (standard rheometry, microfluidics, stopped-flow, capillary) at ISIS, the development of extensional flow-SANS has not been explored.


Thus, the goal of this project is to develop in-house capabilities to perform extensional Flow-SANS studies at ISIS with the available instrumentation. Different protocols, namely uniaxial extension, creep recovery/stress relaxation post extension, and dynamic mechanical analysis at a wide temperature window, can be explored. Coupled with SANS, one can obtain information about the molecular structure, branching, and morphological changes corresponding to macroscopic behaviour such as ductility, brittleness and buckling of soft solids. Such studies find relevance in various industrial operations ranging from polymer melt and composite processing, stability testing of biofilms/membranes and coatings, to performance testing of thin films in battery applications. The project offers a unique opportunity to combine two different fields of research, i.e. rheology and scattering, to address important performance aspects of soft materials. It is anticipated that the work will result in at least one peer-reviewed publication.

Brief overview of the scheme

STFC's incredibly diverse range of placements allow you to work alongside world leading engineers, scientists and technicians in highly collaborative environments. Whichever you choose, you'll become a critical member of the team in which you will be exposed to exciting projects and challenges from the start. You'll be supported every step of the way by our dedicated Graduate Development Team who will also ensure you benefit from a range of personal development opportunities.

About the role and a summary of key duties & responsibilities

The work will include:


Offline operation of the extensional accessory on the ISIS rheometer, and standardization of procedures. This includes optimization of sample conditioning, experimental protocols, and input/output variables. Commissioning and testing of the extensional rheometer on the ISIS TS2 SANS instruments. This deals with rheometer alignment, beam centering, instrument communication, and data interpretation. Specification of relevant sample preparation protocols for soft materials (polymers, colloids, biological systems, etc).
The project will be primarily carried out within the ISIS SANS group and will benefit from the expertise within the Soft Matter Section of the Sample Environment Group and the ISIS Laboratories. Full technical and scientific support will be provided to the student for the duration of the placement.

Person Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential:

Currently enrolled on an undergraduate degree course and returning to university/studies to complete your undergraduate degree following the placement (S) Are required or have requested to take an industrial placement year (S) Have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement (S) Able to commence employment in summer 2026 (S) Studying for a degree in physics, physical chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering or a related discipline with a strong academic record (S) Have a demonstrable understanding of rheology and soft materials - either from previous employment or from practical classes (S&I) Familiarity with X-ray or neutron scattering, particularly small-angle or/and diffraction. Demonstrate an understanding of Health and Safety in the Laboratory (S&I) Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (I) Ability to work as part of a wider team, as well as on own initiative (I)

Desirable:

Basic awareness of project context (I) Evidence of independent chem/bio-lab work from e.g. previous summer placement (S & I)

Employee Benefits:

30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days). Flexible working hours. An excellent defined average salary pension scheme. Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking. Excellent learning and development opportunities. Cycle to work scheme.
Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/


As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

Application Guidance

Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.

Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.


What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible!