Senior Research Associate in Hydrogen Storage

We are seeking a Research & Innovation Associate in Hydrogen Storage to join the HyMax project team within the Functional Porous Advanced Composites Group at Bristol Composites Institute. This role offers a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment with significant support for career development, training, and potential independent research.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and validation of lab-scale modular prototypes to screen hydrogen adsorption/desorption efficiency.
• Oversee the safe operation and maintenance of high-pressure and cryogenic hydrogen systems.
• Conduct synthesis and characterization of porous materials for hydrogen storage applications.
• Contribute to setting research objectives, collaborate with project partners (including Airbus, JLR, Hydrostar, Ecomar Propulsions, and the National Composites Centre), and disseminate findings through high-quality peer-reviewed publications.
• Ensure all research activities comply with University policies, particularly regarding ethics and health and safety protocols.

Requirements

• PhD (or near completion) in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering.
• Proven track record of delivering high-quality research outputs, such as peer-reviewed publications or patents.
• Experience in materials synthesis and characterization.
• Practical experience in designing experiments or prototypes.
• Experience handling high-pressure gases.

Desirable Skills

• Experience with cryogenic systems, high-pressure hydrogen handling, or proficiency in CAD/Python/MATLAB.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams and engage with industrial partners.

Pay

£43,482 - £50,253 per annum

Schedule

• Fixed-term contract from 01/10/2026 until 30/09/2027
• 0.75 FTE / 26.25 hours per week

For informal queries, please contact Dr. Sanjit Nayak at s.nayak@bristol.ac.uk.