Job Description

Job number

ENG03646

Faculties

Faculty of Engineering

Departments

Department of Computing

Salary or Salary range

49,017 - 57,472 per annum

Location/campus

South Kensington Campus - On site only

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Fixed term

Posting End Date

2 Sep 2025

About the role

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We are looking for a motivated Research Associate in Bayesian Optimisation & Experimental Design to work with Professor Ruth Misener and Dr Calvin Tsay in the Department of Computing.



The Department of Computing at Imperial College London is a leading department of Computer Science among UK Universities. The department has achieved top results in each of the research assessment exercises undertaken by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. There are over fifty academic staff members actively involved in research, creating a lively and stimulating atmosphere. The department is located in central London, next to Hyde Park and the museums of South Kensington.

What you would be doing

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You will conduct research at the intersection of computational optimisation, machine learning, and experimental design of new chemistry. You will develop Bayesian optimisation and other active learning approaches for experimental design with a focus on real-world systems. While most of the work will be computational or mathematical, you will also have the opportunity to visit BASF in Ludwigshafen, Germany for three months to try out the new algorithms in the lab.

What we are looking for

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A PhD (or equivalent) in an area pertinent to the subject area, e.g., Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Engineering Physics, or Chemical Engineering. Alternatively, equivalent research or industrial experience.
You must have experience in algorithms development You must have proven strong publication track-record in machine learning, computational optimisation, process systems engineering, or a closely-related discipline You will be expected to contribute towards developing and maintaining open source software related to this project (https://github.com/cog-imperial) Ability to conduct a detailed review of recent literature




Please see job description for a full list of requirements.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant, salary range 43,863 - 47,223 per annum.

What we can offer you

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The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity. Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression. Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes). Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

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Full-time, Fixed term contract to start Oct 2025 (or later) for up to 18 months.





Informal enquiries related to the position should be directed to Professor Ruth Misener - r.misener@imperial.ac.uk



For queries regarding the application process contact Jamie Perrins: j.perrins@imperial.ac.uk

Available documents

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Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.



If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.


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About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.



Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.



As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.



This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.


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Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.



Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.