We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Ultrafast and Terahertz Photonics Group within the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick. We are seeking to appoint an ambitious Research Fellow to undertake research as part of a project developing THz instrumentation for faster diagnosis of cancer.
The position is available from June 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter for 2 years with the possibility of extension.
Your research goals will be related to developing and integrating terahertz technology with robotics for applying THz imaging and spectroscopy techniques to the detection of skin cancer and other skin conditions as part of the £10M EPSRC-funded project, Terabotics. Particular focus will be on developing and integrating novel THz image approaches with a medical-grade robot, and speeding up and improving the accuracy of terahertz data acquisition and analysis.
About You
We are looking for someone with a PhD in relevant scientific discipline (e.g. Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Robotics), a proven track record of research in terahertz technology, e.g. THz modulation, THz waveguides, THz polarisors, THz antennas, and experience with terahertz time domain spectroscopy equipment including optical alignment, control software and data analysis.
For further information about what we are looking for, please see the person specification section of the attached job description.
You will be an excellent communicator capable of working effectively both independently and as part of a research team. You will be approachable and enthusiastic to help others, particularly PhD students. You will possess excellent planning and time management skills to ensure your research objectives are achieved effectively.
About the Department
The Ultrafast and Terahertz Photonics Group
The Ultrafast and Terahertz Photonics group currently comprises 4 members of staff (Lloyd-Hughes, MacPherson, Milot, Wright) and investigates a wide range of topics including medical imaging, technique and device development, and spectroscopy of novel materials. Group members have access to the Warwick Centre for Ultrafast Spectroscopy (WCUS), which is a Research Technology Platform supported by the University. WCUS houses facilities for optical pump/THz probe (OPTP) and THz pump/THz probe (TPTP) spectroscopies in addition to IR and UV-vis pump-probe and steady-state techniques. More information on the Ultrafast and Terahertz Photonics group can be found at www.warwick.ac.uk/physics and go.warwick.ac.uk/ultrafast.
The webpage for Professor Emma MacPherson is here:
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/physics/research/condensedmatt/ultrafastphotonics/emmasthzgroup/
Department of Physics
The post will be based in the Department of Physics, a vibrant academic department with over 200 academic, research, technical and professional services staff, over 800 undergraduate students and 200 postgraduate research students.
We are proud of our diverse community of staff, students, and visitors, and are committed to maintaining an excellent record in teaching and research by ensuring that there is equality of opportunity for all, fostered in an environment of mutual respect and dignity.
We hold an Athena SWAN Silver award, a national initiative to promote gender equality for all staff and students. We are also a Juno Champion, which is an award from the Institute of Physics to recognise our efforts to address the under-representation of women in university physics and to encourage better practice for both women and men.
Further information about working in the Department of Physics and the benefits available can be found at www.warwick.ac.uk/physics/staff/working/.
The University supports flexible working and requests for part-time working or job-share will be considered where possible.
Childcare for interviews
Childcare can be provided for you at the University of Warwick Nursery (www.warwick.ac.uk/services/childrensservices/nursery) in order for you to attend the interview. Childcare is subject to the availability of places at the Nursery.
About the University
Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’**.
You'll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real-world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.
*QS World University Rankings 2024
** Research Excellence Framework 2021
To find out more about us, visit our website.
How to Apply
CLOSING DATE: Sunday 25th May 2025 at 23:55 (BST)
To apply, please click ‘Apply’ below and submit an application form by the closing date.
Please plan for any potential delays as you will not be able to submit an application form past this deadline (even if you opened the form at, say, 23:30).
You will have to attach a CV and a cover letter.
- Your CV should include your employment history (including your most recent employment), your educational history, and any other relevant experience.
- Your cover letter should explain your motivations for applying to the role. It should also explain, using examples, how you meet each of the essential and desirable criteria detailed in the Job Description PDF document below. Please note that all essential criteria must be met by candidates who are invited to interview.
Please see here for guidance on writing a cover letter. We highly recommend using individual criteria as headers and explaining below, using examples, how you meet the criterion, though you are free to format the letter as you wish.
To streamline our hiring processes, we can only accept applications submitted via our official careers webpage, warwick-careers.tal.net.
- Interview Date: June 2025
- Start Date: ASAP
What We Offer
We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days' holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.
We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working. For more information, click here.
We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer.
If you are considering relocating to the UK, read our Relocation Guide to find out more about what Warwick has to offer and what might be involved in the process.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.
We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick, visit our webpages here.
The University currently holds a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award, Athena Swan Sliver Award and a Disability Smart Bronze Award. Further information on all of the University's Awards and Accreditations can be found here. The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance.
Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
The University of Warwick is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those we work with.
In line with the DBS Code of Practice, the successful candidates for any roles involving regulated activity will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level. The University will take all necessary measures to ensure that any individual subject to a barring order does not undertake any work with the barred group specified (i.e. children and/or adults).
We expect all employees, volunteers, and partners to share our commitment to safeguarding.
Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders
The University undertakes not to discriminate against anyone who makes a disclosure relating to a conviction. The information disclosed at the application stage is only visible to the central DBS team (i.e. not recruiting managers) to ensure there is no bias during the shortlisting process.
Job Description
JD - Research Fellow (110445).pdf – 69KB Opens in a new window
Right to Work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link, which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.
