Associate Professor Biology​/Chemical association OxEarth

The Department of Engineering Science intends to appoint an Associate Professor of Engineering Science (Chemical Engineering and Engineering Biology) from 1 August 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The successful candidate will work at the Department of Engineering Science (Begbroke Science Park, OX5 1PF
) and will be offered a Non‑Tutorial Fellowship at Kellogg College under arrangements described in the Job Description. The combined University and College salary will be on a scale currently from £58,265 p.a. to £77,645 per annum plus additional benefits (see the Job Description for full details). The appointment will be initially for five years at which point, upon completion of a successful review, the post‑holder will be eligible for reappointment to the retiring age.

This post is part of the new strategic research programme Oxford EARTH (Equitable Access to Sustainable Resources for a Thriving Habitat, further details in the job description). The post will strengthen Departmental Chemical Engineering research by addressing key challenges in resource production, recovery, and circularisation. Applications focused on research into sustainable separation, refinement, and recycling methods for critical metals and rare earths, bioprocessing and engineered biological applications in resources, or on hydrogen production, are particularly welcome.

An educational or professional background in Chemical Engineering is essential for delivering undergraduate teaching aspects of the role, as well as a doctorate in Chemical Engineering or a cognate discipline, such as Materials Science, Environmental Engineering, or Engineering Biology.

Applicants will be expected to augment existing Departmental capabilities with novel and complementary research activity. Once in post, the successful candidate will be expected to apply for and obtain external funding to develop and sustain an independent research programme, as well as to form links within the Department of Engineering Science, with other departments across the University of Oxford, and elsewhere.

The successful candidate will be expected to take part in the teaching of undergraduate courses in the Department of Engineering Science, which may include lectures, taught classes, practical laboratories, and the supervision of undergraduate design and project work. They will also provide guidance on academic progress and wellbeing to students in Kellogg College, where they will play a role in the governance of the college.

They will also be expected to contribute to the department's research portfolio in Chemical or Biochemical engineering, obtaining external funding to enable development of a new and independent research program.

To make an application, you will need to submit a supporting statement, a CV (including details of your most relevant publications) and a research proposal in a combined PDF totaling no more than 6 pages. You should not submit a separate covering letter, but if you do, it will be counted within the 6 page limit. Please do not attach additional material as your application will not be considered if it is over‑length.

Further details on the requirements for each of these documents can be found in the job description which can be obtained here:

The job reference is: DF25KE
LO/182988. Please quote this in all correspondence. The closing date for applications is 12:00 noon on Monday 26 January. Preliminary online interviews are expected to take place in March followed by in‑person interviews for shortlisted candidates in April.

For those invited to interview, the department can provide accommodation and will cover reasonable travel expenses and reasonable additional caring costs incurred as a result of attending the interview (within agreed policy limits).

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates who are under‑represented in academic posts in Oxford. The Department is committed to equality and valuing diversity and holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to promoting gender equality in academia. The University is a Living Wage Employer, holds an Athena Swan Silver Award, an HR Excellence in Research and a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award and is a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we seek to create a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through our EDI Committee, working groups and networks, for example , as well as a number of family friendly policies.