Research Associate: Porous Metal Manufacturing Green Hydrogen

Research Assistant: £33,951 to £35,608 per annum

Research Associate: £36,636 to £38,784 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 07 August 2026

Green hydrogen produced by water electrolysis is a key technology for decarbonising energy storage, chemicals and steel production. However, the design of porous metal materials at the heart of these devices remains largely unexplored, and new manufacturing approaches are needed to unlock their full potential.

We are seeking an ambitious Postdoctoral Research Associate/Research Assistant to join the Electrochemical Engineering Science Group and work within Dr Daniel Niblett's team on the five-year UKRI EPSRC ION-H2 Fellowship. The programme combines computational modelling, machine learning, advanced manufacturing and electrolyser testing to develop next-generation green hydrogen technologies.

You will develop innovative manufacturing routes for structured and stochastic porous metal electrodes and transport layers using approaches such as additive manufacturing, powder metallurgy, casting, particle sintering and precision machining. These materials will then be characterised and tested in electrolysers using imaging and electrochemical techniques, with opportunities to work with collaborators specialising in advanced X‑ray computed tomography.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge research while developing independent research ideas within a supportive and growing team. The successful candidate will be encouraged to shape aspects of the programme, contribute to future research proposals, and develop their own research direction. The position provides an excellent platform for developing an independent academic or industrial career.

• EPSRC Ocean Refuel – Floating offshore wind coupled to hydrogen production and novel membraneless electrolyser development, 2kW stack testing and modelling:

The position offers flexible working arrangements and opportunities for international collaboration with leading groups in porous material manufacturing, imaging, machine learning and electrochemical engineering. Current collaborators include UNSW Sydney (Australia), Shenzhen University (China), Eindhoven University of Technology and University of Groningen (The Netherlands), SINTEF (Norway) and Nel Hydrogen (USA) providing opportunities for research visits and international networking.

We recognise that excellent researchers come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. If this opportunity excites you, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every requirement listed below.

• Develop and apply advanced manufacturing methods for porous metal structures, including additive manufacturing, particle sintering, casting and machining
• Design and fabricate porous electrodes and flow fields for water electrolysers using CAD and manufacturing tools
• Characterise porous materials and establish structure‑property relationships using appropriate imaging and analysis techniques
• Conduct optical imaging and fluid flow investigations to understand the performance of manufactured structures and designed electrolysers
• Become trained in electrochemical techniques and apply these to evaluate fabricated materials in electrolyser cells
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
• Co‑ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate

• Co…