Jobs at the University of Kent | Research https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/Vacancies.aspx?cat=201&type=5 Latest job vacancies at the University of Kent <![CDATA[Research Associate in Conservation Science (SNS-089-26)]]> https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/rss/click.aspx?ref=SNS-089-26 https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/rss/click.aspx?ref=SNS-089-26 On the 1 August 2026, The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent will form a pioneering new multi-university group called London and South- East (LASE) University Group. Should you join us, you will be employed by LASE but will work as part of the University of Kent academic division, contributing to its distinct strengths, community and identity while also being part of a wider group that brings together the scale, resilience and shared ambition of both universities. Through LASE we aim to deliver outstanding education, impactful research, and meaningful regional and global impact.

The Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) in the School of Natural Sciences is looking to recruit a Research Associate in Conservation Science to join the E3 Sharing Space for Nature Programme, a five year programme funded by Research England and based at DICE. The E3 Sharing Space for Nature programme began in August 2024 and will end in July 2029.

The Research Associate will contribute to achieving the overall programme goals related to other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), with a focus on understanding how, where, and under what conditions do OECMs deliver ecological and social outcomes. 

DICE is a world-leading institute, ranked 1st in the UK for the quality of our outputs in the REF21 Geography and Environmental Studies unit of assessment, and awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2019 in recognition of our ‘pioneering education, capacity building and research in global nature conservation’.

As Research Associate you can expect to be involved in:

  • Undertaking original, high-quality research and publishing in leading journals.
  • Supporting the activities of the E3 initiative to achieve the overarching objectives.
  • Co-supervising and mentoring postgraduate researchers. 

What will you bring to the role?

  • A PhD in conservation science or a relevant subject, or equivalent
  • Specialist knowledge of, and research experience in, a field relevant to OECMs and area-based conservation
  • Experience of research publications relevant to area-based conservation

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

  • 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
  • Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
  • Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting reference number SNS-089-26.

Closing Date: 09 Aug 2026

Section: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £44,746 per annum

]]> Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Postdoctoral Research Associate (SNS-090-26)]]> https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/rss/click.aspx?ref=SNS-090-26 https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/rss/click.aspx?ref=SNS-090-26

On the 1 August 2026, The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent will form a pioneering new multi-university group called London and South- East (LASE) University Group. Should you join us, you will be employed by LASE but will work as part of the University of Kent academic division, contributing to its distinct strengths, community and identity while also being part of a wider group that brings together the scale, resilience and shared ambition of both universities. Through LASE we aim to deliver outstanding education, impactful research, and meaningful regional and global impact.

Are you excited by the opportunity to use cutting-edge imaging techniques to better understand muscle function? If so this role could be ideal.

We’re looking for a bright and enthusiastic Post-Doctoral Research Associate to join Professor Neil Kad’s lab at the University of Kent. This BBSRC-funded interdisciplinary project will use state-of-the-art single molecule imaging techniques to explore how muscle is activated and relaxed, generating insights relevant to both normal and diseased muscle function.

Working with partners in the UK and overseas, including the University of Washington and the University of Kentucky, you’ll use approaches spanning protein biochemistry, single molecule biochemistry and high-resolution imaging. You’ll be supported by a well-equipped lab with dedicated microscopes for single molecule fluorescence imaging, alongside shared School of Biosciences facilities including NMR, Mass Spectrometry, cell biology and super-resolution imaging.

As Postdoctoral Research Associate you can expect to be involved in:

  • Designing and delivering research activity using protein biochemistry and imaging techniques
  • Generating, isolating and analysing recombinant and tissue-derived proteins
  • Developing assay systems and contributing to three-dimensional super-resolution imaging approaches
  • Analysing data, publishing findings and presenting research to academic and project audiences

What will you bring to the role?

  • A PhD, or near completion, in a relevant scientific discipline
  • Experience conducting research projects, including data collection and analysis
  • Familiarity with microscopy, high-resolution imaging, assay development, molecular biology or protein purification
  • Strong data processing, communication and organisational skills, with a collaborative approach to research

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

  • 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
  • Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
  • Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting reference number SNS-090-26.

Closing Date: 26 Jul 2026

Section: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £44,746 per annum

]]> Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Research Associate (Software Engineering) (EMP-012-26)]]> https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/rss/click.aspx?ref=EMP-012-26 https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/rss/click.aspx?ref=EMP-012-26 On the 1 August 2026, The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent will form a pioneering new multi-university group called London and South- East (LASE) University Group. Should you join us, you will be employed by LASE but will work as part of the University of Kent academic division, contributing to its distinct strengths, community and identity while also being part of a wider group that brings together the scale, resilience and shared ambition of both universities. Through LASE we aim to deliver outstanding education, impactful research, and meaningful regional and global impact.

Are you interested in applying software engineering skills to modernise internationally used scientific software for computational physics?

We’re looking for a motivated Research Associate with strong software engineering skills and an interest in computational physics, condensed matter physics or high-performance scientific computing. You'll collaborate with leading developers from the DiagHam and ALPS projects, alongside international research software engineering experts, helping to modernise sustainable scientific software used worldwide for simulations of strongly correlated quantum systems.

Working on the Software Sustainability Institute-funded DiagHam–ALPS project, you’ll help modernise the DiagHam software ecosystem through improved software infrastructure, automated testing, continuous integration, packaging, documentation and support for deployment in high-performance computing environments. You’ll work closely with physicists, research software engineers and international collaborators, with opportunities to explore modern software engineering approaches, including use of AI-assisted development tools where appropriate.

As Research Associate you can expect to be involved in:

  • Delivering software engineering objectives for the DiagHam–ALPS project
  • Developing and maintaining research software using C++, Python and related technologies
  • Improving testing, validation, continuous integration, packaging and documentation workflows
  • Supporting interoperability between DiagHam and ALPS and contributing to collaborative open-source software development

What will you bring to the role?

  • A degree in Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering or equivalent professional software-development experience.
  • Software development experience using C++, Python or closely related programming languages.
  • Experience with Git, Linux or Unix-based environments, and complex software projects.
  • Experience of software testing, validation or continuous integration, together with the ability to develop and validate software involving quantitative or numerical concepts.

Further background on the DiagHam and ALPS software projects is available at:

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

  • 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
  • Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
  • Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

Applicant guidance:

Applicants are encouraged to provide concise, specific examples drawn from software they have developed or maintained. Where available, links to publicly accessible repositories, software releases or technical documentation are welcomed, but equivalent evidence from commercial or proprietary software projects will be considered equally.

Please include:

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • A supporting statement (maximum 1 page) explaining your interest in the role and how your background has prepared you for it
  • Responses to application questions

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting reference number EMP-012-26.

Closing Date: 09 Aug 2026

Section: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £44,746 per annum

]]> Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Research Fellow in Public Engagement and Science Governance (SSS-038-26)]]> https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/rss/click.aspx?ref=SSS-038-26 https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/rss/click.aspx?ref=SSS-038-26 On the 1 August 2026, The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent will form a pioneering new multi-university group called London and South- East (LASE) University Group. Should you join us, you will be employed by LASE but will work as part of the University of Kent academic division, contributing to its distinct strengths, community and identity while also being part of a wider group that brings together the scale, resilience and shared ambition of both universities. Through LASE we aim to deliver outstanding education, impactful research, and meaningful regional and global impact.

Are you an experienced researcher with a passion for public engagement and the social dimensions of emerging science? 

Do you want to help shape new approaches to engaging diverse communities in conversations about genomic science?

We are seeking a Research Fellow to join the Wellcome-funded project, Tuning EARS for the Future: Reframing Engagement in (Genomic) Science. This project reframes public engagement from cataloguing stakeholder views to addressing the relational gaps that shape how publics and stakeholders engage with emerging science. 

Working closely with Professor Joy Y. Zhang and a multidisciplinary research team, you will contribute to the development of innovative public dialogue approaches, collaborate with a range of stakeholders, and help generate research that informs the future of engagement in genomic science. You will be experienced in collaborative research and public engagement with comprehensive knowledge of emerging biomedical or genomic sciences and their associated social, ethical and policy dimensions.

The post is full-time and for a fixed period to the end of August 2027.

As a Research Fellow you can expect to be involved in:

  • Designing and conducting empirical research to support the successful delivery of the Tuning EARS for the Future project.
  • Conducting in-depth media, policy, and secondary data analysis, synthesizing findings to generate meaningful insights for the project.
  • Co-leading high-impact academic publications that contribute to scholarly discourse and advance knowledge in the field.
  • Playing a central role in curating, publicising and delivering engagement activities with diverse stakeholders.

What will you bring to the role?

  • A PhD, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline such as sociology, science communication, anthropology, political science, bioethics or a related field.
  • Experience of independently designing and conducting rigorous empirical social research, with a strong publication record.
  • Knowledge of the social, ethical and policy dimensions of emerging biomedical or genomic sciences.
  • Experience of public engagement or science communication, with excellent collaborative and communication skills.

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

  • Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs - for this role, remote work may be supported, however there will be a need to attend the Canterbury campus regularly)
  • 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
  • Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
  • Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

This role is based at the School of Social Sciences and the university-level research centre, the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice (GSEJ). The School has been ranked 3rd in the UK for overall research quality, with 100% of its environment classified as world-leading in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). GSEJ serves as a hub for transdisciplinary and international collaboration on major research programmes. It has co-hosted a G20 India-UK dialogue on science diplomacy, and its policy recommendations on global biodata governance were included in the formal Think 7 communiqué to the G7 presidency in 2024. 

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. 

For enquiries about the roles, please contact Joy Y. Zhang via email at y.zhang-203@kent.ac.uk. For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting reference number SSS-038-26

Closing Date: 28 Jul 2026

Section: Research

Salary: £48,822 to £54,893 per annum pro rata

]]> Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Research Associate/ Fellow (Social Study of Synthetic Genomics) (SSS-036-26)]]> https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/rss/click.aspx?ref=SSS-036-26 https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/rss/click.aspx?ref=SSS-036-26 On the 1 August 2026, The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent will form a pioneering new multi-university group called London and South- East (LASE) University Group. Should you join us, you will be employed by LASE but will work as part of the University of Kent academic division, contributing to its distinct strengths, community and identity while also being part of a wider group that brings together the scale, resilience and shared ambition of both universities. Through LASE we aim to deliver outstanding education, impactful research, and meaningful regional and global impact.

Are you passionate about exploring the social and ethical implications of emerging technologies? 

Do you want to contribute to an internationally significant research project shaping global conversations on the future governance of genome synthesis?

We are looking to appoint two researchers to join the Wellcome Discovery Award-funded project, Care-full Synthesis: Advancing Global Engagement on the Socio-Ethical Implications of Synthesising Human Genomes. Working closely with principal investigator Professor Joy Y. Zhang, you will contribute to pioneering research that brings together diverse global perspectives to explore the ethical, legal, social and governance challenges of genome synthesis and engineering biology.

Successful candidates will be appointed to either Research Associate at Grade 7 or Research Fellow at Grade 8 depending on current expertise, skills and experience, as assessed by the recruitment panel against the essential criteria for each role.

As a Research Associate/Research Fellow you can expect to be involved in:

  • Conducting research into the socio-ethical, economic and political implications of genome synthesis and engineering biology.
  • Collaborating with international partners, stakeholders and research participants to support data collection, analysis and dissemination activities.
  • Contributing to the development of governance, ethics and public engagement approaches that reflect diverse global perspectives.
  • Supporting the communication and dissemination of research findings through publications, events and other project activities.

What will you bring to the role?

  • A PhD or equivalent in a relevant field within the social studies of science, such as sociology, anthropology, political sciences, bioethics, science communication, or other related disciplines 
  • Knowledge of the ethical, social and policy dimensions of emerging biomedical sciences.
  • Experience of conducting and communicating high-quality research and publishing in internationally recognised journals.
  • The ability to collaborative and engage effectively with a range of stakeholders and partners.

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

  • Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs - for this role, remote work may be supported, however there will be a need to attend the Canterbury campus regularly)
  • 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
  • Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
  • Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

This role is based at the School of Social Sciences and the university-level research centre, the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice (GSEJ). The School has been ranked 3rd in the UK for overall research quality, with 100% of its environment classified as world-leading in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). GSEJ serves as a hub for transdisciplinary and international collaboration on major research programmes. It has co-hosted a G20 India-UK dialogue on science diplomacy, and its policy recommendations on global biodata governance were included in the formal Think 7 communiqué to the G7 presidency in 2024. 

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job descriptions for each post and to apply.

For enquiries about the roles, please contact Joy Y. Zhang via email at y.zhang-203@kent.ac.uk. For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting reference number SSS-036-26

Closing Date: 19 Jul 2026

Section: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £54,893 per annum

]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Research Associate (Sociology of Emerging Science) (SSS-037-26)]]> https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/rss/click.aspx?ref=SSS-037-26 https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/rss/click.aspx?ref=SSS-037-26 On the 1 August 2026, The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent will form a pioneering new multi-university group called London and South- East (LASE) University Group. Should you join us, you will be employed by LASE but will work as part of the University of Kent academic division, contributing to its distinct strengths, community and identity while also being part of a wider group that brings together the scale, resilience and shared ambition of both universities. Through LASE we aim to deliver outstanding education, impactful research, and meaningful regional and global impact.

How can the UK shape the future of synthetic plants in ways that foster innovation, sustainability, and meaningful public participation? Join the ARIA-funded project Futuring Biological Commons, which aims to advance the UK’s governing approach on synthetic plants, support a sustainable research and industrial ecosystem, and promote meaningful public deliberation.

In this fixed term research post, you will work closely with Professor Joy Y. Zhang and a transdisciplinary research team comprising experts from the social sciences, synthetic biology, industrial biotechnology, and civil society. You will contribute to the development of an empirically grounded, future-oriented approach to relational plant ethics, exploring care for techno-lifeforms and ‘symbiodiversity’, while identifying practical strategies to address structural and cultural barriers to the responsible development and adoption of synthetic plant technologies.

As Research Associate (Sociology of Emerging Science) you can expect to be involved in:

•    Ensure the successful and timely delivery of the Futuring Biological Commons project, fostering a collaborative, collegial, and interdisciplinary research environment.

•    Actively contribute to the research culture and intellectual community of the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice and the School of Social Sciences, engaging in knowledge exchange and academic development initiatives.

What will you bring to the role?

•    Proven ability to independently design and conduct rigorous empirical social research, demonstrating methodological excellence

•    Strong research track record, evidenced by publications in internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals and presentations at academic conferences

•    Comprehensive knowledge of emerging applications in engineering biology and their socio-environmental implications, particularly in areas such as agriculture, food            systems, and ecological sustainability

•    Experience in collaborative research and interdisciplinary teamwork, with a demonstrated ability to engage diverse stakeholders across academic, policy, industry and public  sectors

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

•    Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs) (remove this bullet for ACADEMIC roles)

•    43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)

•    Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions

•    Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

The role is based within the School of Social Sciences and the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice (GSEJ), a university-wide research centre dedicated to advancing innovative and internationally connected research. The School was ranked 3rd in the UK for overall research quality in REF 2021, with 100% of its research environment assessed as world-leading. GSEJ serves as a hub for transdisciplinary collaboration on major global challenges, having co-hosted the G20 India–UK Dialogue on Science Diplomacy and contributed recommendations on biodata governance to the Think 7 communiqué for the 2024 G7 presidency. 

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting reference number SSS-037-26.

Closing Date: 23 Jul 2026

Section: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £44,746 per annum

]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT