Research Assistant/AssociateJob detailsPosted 20 August 2025 Salary Grade 6/7: £33,951 - £37,694 / £41,064 - £46,049 per annum Job Type Research and Teaching Reference179732 Expiry 10 September 2025 at 23:45
Job Purpose
The post holder will join the LISA Optical Bench Team at the University of Glasgow.LISA is a European Space Agency (ESA) led mission to launch a gravitational detector in the mid 2030s. The mission has just been adopted by ESA as a flagship scientific mission in the next decade. The LISA instrument consist of 3 satellites in a triangular configuration with 2.5-million-kilometre arms, moving in an Earth-like orbit around the Sun. Gravitational waves from sources throughout the Universe will produce slight oscillations in the arm lengths (smaller than the diameter of an atom). LISA will capture these motions and thus measure the gravitational waves by using laser links to monitor the displacements of test masses free-falling inside the spacecraft. The LISA satellites and their scientific payload are being built by ESA, ESA member nations, and NASA.Each spacecraft carries 2 optical benches which are at the heart of the interferometry system. A joint team from the University of Glasgow and the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (ATC) in Edinburgh are responsible for developing and building these optical benches. The team is funded by the UK Space Agency (UKSA).The optical benches are built on Zerodur, a low expansion glass, with many optical components precision aligned and hydroxy-catalysis bonded to the optical bench base. As part of the optical bench build, a variety of sub-systems such as beam collimators, beam shaping, imaging systems and beam dumps have to be developed, tested and aligned on to the optical bench.You will be involved in the designing, building testing and documenting these systems and processes.Typical investigations might involve some combination of lasers, fibre optics, optical modulators, interferometers, precision manipulators, precision measurement, quadrant photodiodes, home-built electronics, optical beam profiling and data acquisition and control systems.A significant part of the process is liaising with the many different partners in the project – sub-system suppliers from multiple European countries, ESA, UKSA, ATC, NASA, etc.Please note that for this role, we must comply with a funder’s/partner’s conditions, namely restrictions on exporting information covered by Export Administration Regulations (EAR). For this reason, there is a genuine occupational requirement that we are unable to consider applications at this time from nationals from countries excluded in the NS2 column in the country listhttps://www.bis.gov/regulations/ear/738#supplement-1-738
Main Duties And Responsibilities:
Perform the following activities in conjunction with the Principal/Co Investigator
- Take a role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and project/group/School/College research strategy.
- Take a role in working with the main project partner the ATC
- Take part in some of the optical bench build and test activities
- Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.
- Take part in the preparation of technical documentation
- Represent the work of the Optical Bench Team at LISA workshops and collaboration meetings with international and national partners.
- Present research findings at high profile national and international conferences, seminars and meetings to raise the profile of the research group in order to enhance the research strength of the school.
- Undertake any other duties of equivalent standing as assigned by the PI.
For appointment at Grade 7
- Perform the above duties with a higher degree of independence, leadership and responsibility, particularly in relation to planning, funding, collaborating and publishing research, and mentoring colleagues.
- Take a lead in some of the optical bench build and test activities
- Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.
- Lead the preparation of some technical documentation
These key tasks are not intended to be exhaustive but simply highlight a number of major tasks which the staff member may be reasonably expected to perform.
Knowledge/Qualifications
Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Essential:
A1 SCQF Level 10 (Honours degree) in a relevant subject or a cognate discipline, or equivalent.
For appointment at Grade 7
Essential:
A2 Normally Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) plus track record of emerging independence within a research/professional environment, or alternatively possess professional qualifications and experience equivalent to PhD level plus the requisite experience.
Skills
Essential:C1 Proven practical laboratory skills in optics/interferometry/photonicsC2 Ability to use initiative and to learn and apply learn new techniquesC3 Excellent communication skills (oral and written), including public presentations and ability to communicate complex data/concepts clearly and conciselyC4 Problem solving skills including a flexible and pragmatic approachC5 Excellent interpersonal skills including team working and a collegiate approach
For appointment at Grade 7
Essential
C6 Research creativity and strong collaborative abilityC7 Self-motivation, initiative and independent thought/working
Experience
Essential:E1 Experience of working in optics/interferometry/photonics environmentE2 Sufficient relevant research experience (or equivalent) appropriate to an early career researcher.E3 Experience of scientific writing.E4 Evidence of an emerging track record of publications in a relevant field.
For appointment at Grade 7
Essential:
E5 Sufficient depth of relevant research experience in a related field, appropriate to an early career researcher.
Desirable:
E6 Experience in optical modelling and design of optical systemsE7 Experience in hydroxide-catalysis bonding or other precision bonding techniquesE8 Experience with optical metrologyE9 Experience working with NIR lasersE10 Experience in clean-room workingE11 Experience in optical polishingE12 Experience in data handling and processing using, e.g. Matlab, Python, LabVIEWE13 Experience with building laboratory electronicsFor informal discussions about the role, please contact Dr David Robertson David.Robertson@glasgow.ac.uk
Terms and Conditions
Salary will be Grade 6/7, £33,951 - £37,694 / £41,064 - £46,049 per annumThis post is full time, and has funding available until 31st March 2026The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.As a valued member of our team, you can expect:1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.3 A flexible approach to working.4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.Closing date: 10 September 2025 at 23:45
