Postdoctoral Research Associate

Grade UE07: £41,064-48,822 per annum

School of Chemistry, College of Science & Engineering

Full Time: 35 hours per week, however we are open to considering part-time or flexible working patterns.

Fixed term contract: 24 months

The Opportunity

Postdoctoral Research Associate (King-Smith Group)

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position to work under the supervision of Dr Emma King-Smith on a project funded by The Royal Society.

The successful candidate will work on syntheses to advance the next generation of AI-guided organic chemistry. You can find out more about the King-Smith Group at our website (https://www.kingsmithgroup.com/).

Applicants should have

• A PhD in chemistry, computer science, or related discipline (or have submitted a PhD thesis prior to taking up the appointment).
• Possess a deep interest in chemical synthesis and the application of machine learning to synthesis.
• A proven track record of successfully completing research projects.
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills are essential.

Click to view a copy of the full Job Description (opens new browser tab)

How to apply

Please include the following documents in your application

• Up to date CV with details of two referees

• Cover letter (max 1 page)

• Research summary (max 2 pages)

As a valued member of our team, you can expect

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also a Stonewall Proud Employer, actively promoting LGBTQ+ equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab)

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.

Please note if the role is offered on a part-time basis, it may result in sponsorship being dependent on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant or the role no longer meeting the Home Office’s criteria for sponsorship.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 12 November 2026.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.

Interviews dates to be confirmed.