Senior Research Associate in Environmental Organic Chemistry

Senior Research Associate in Environmental Organic Chemistry

Lancaster Environment Centre

Location: Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK

Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 Full-Time/Indefinite with End Date

Closing Date: Sunday 22 February 2026

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Reference: 0056-26

A Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) is sought to join the research group of Dr Andy Sweetman to investigate the environmental sources, fate and behaviour of per‑and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in selected UK catchments.

The PDRA will be part of a new UKRI‑funded project led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology which aims to transform our understanding of this important group of chemicals that can last hundreds of years in the environment, posing long‑term risks to ecosystems and potentially human health. The result will be improved assessments of what happens to these so‑called ‘forever chemicals’ in habitats, including their impacts on wildlife.

Lancaster University, the University of Birmingham and the British Geological Survey are included as project partners, with collaboration from the Environment Agency.

The project team will develop a state‑of‑the‑art environmental model called P‑FASE (PFAS Fate and Speciation in the Environment). This tool will integrate cutting‑edge science to predict how a wide variety of PFAS compounds move through, accumulate in, and impact different parts of the UK environment. The Lancaster University PDRA will compile source inventory information for the selected study catchments, along with physicochemical property data to drive the model.

This activity will be carried out in collaboration with Stockholm University. There will also be extensive field sampling campaigns across the catchments, along with the analysis of selected ultra‑short‑chained PFAS in the group’s laboratories.

Ideally you will have experience of source inventory work, modelling and laboratory experience working with trace organic chemical analysis using chromatography‑mass spectrometry instrumentation. You will join a small friendly research team, and you should have excellent communication, organisation and time‑management skills and demonstrate a strong team‑work ethic.

LEC offers a highly collegial and stimulating environment for career development based on departmental values and embedded Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) considerations and actions. We are committed to family‑friendly and flexible working policies on an individual basis as well as the Athena SWAN Charter, which recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address gender equality in higher education and research.

Furthermore, we are active and progressive around sustainability, wellbeing and decolonising agendas.

All interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr Andy Sweetman for informal enquiries ().

An enthusiastic individual is sought for this full‑time (1 FTE) 3‑year‑fixed post.

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Please note: unless specified otherwise in the advert, all advertised roles are UK based.

Find out what it’s like to work at Lancaster University, including information on our wide range of employee benefits, support networks and our policies and facilities for a family‑friendly workplace.

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We warmly welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their age, religion, gender identity or expression, race, disability or sexual orientation, and are committed to promoting diversity and equality of opportunity.

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