Job Description

Reporting to Associate Professor James Bryson, the post holder will be a member of the Planetary Magnetism research group with the responsibility of carrying out research as part of the UKRI Frontier Research Guarantee grant entitled MMESSH (Utilising Meteorite Magnetism to Elucidate Early Solar System History). The post holder will provide guidance to less experienced members of the research group, including postdocs, research assistants, technicians, and PhD and Masters project students if required.

The post holder will develop quantum diamond microscopy (QDM) as a new paleomagnetic tool, and apply this promising technique to individual chondrules to access unique insight into the paleointensity of the magnetic field that threaded the protoplanetary disk.

They will oversee the development and operation of the geo-QDM in the Paleomagnetism Laboratory, University of Oxford.

The post holder will be responsible for managing and conducting research and administrative duties regarding the QDM and magnetism of chondrules as part of the MMESSH grant. They will use specialist scientific equipment in a laboratory environment and optimise and adopt any scientific techniques required to access the necessary data. They will also assist with training and data collection involving the geo-QDM in non-MMESSH related projects.

They will write and publish any relevant scientific research papers on geo-QDM and the magnetism of individual chondrules and will act as a source of information and advice to other group members on scientific protocols and experimental techniques if required.

About you

You will hold, or be close to completion of (i.e., submitted thesis at the time an offer is made), a relevant PhD/DPhil and have relevant experience in paleomagnetism and/or rock magnetism. You will possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to work within established research programmes.

You will have the ability and desire to learn and understand new experimental techniques, and to conduct technique development and optimisation.

You will have the ability to manage your own academic research and associated activities in a productive and independent manner. You must have excellent communication skills including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meetings.

Ideally you will have experience in high-resolution magnetic microscopy, paleointensity measurements, and laboratory-based extra-terrestrial magnetism. You will also ideally have experience of independently explicit management of a discrete area of a research project and actively collaborating in the development of research articles for publication.

For further details of the role please see the job description.

This role is fixed term for 2 years and 3 months. The deadline for applications is midday on 27 May 2025. Interviews will be held 06 June 2025.

You will be required to upload a CV and a Supporting Statement as part of your application. Please do not attach any manuscripts, papers, transcripts, mark sheets or certificates as these will not be considered as part of your application.

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and ethnic minority candidates, who are under-represented in research posts in the Department.