Job Description

Research Technical Professional Retraining Fellowship

Sponsored by The National Physical Laboratory (NPL)

Two year part-time (0.5 FTE)

Teddington TW11 0LW – site based

Only applicants with a career break of at least two years taken for family, caring, or health reasons can be considered for this role.

About this Fellowship

Be part of something NEW! The Daphne Jackson Trust has launched a new fellowship. Research Technical Professional (RTP) Fellowships support those who have taken a career break of two or more years for family, health or caring reasons and want to return to a technical role.

Applications are invited for a two year part-time (0.5 FTE) Daphne Jackson Research Technical Professional Fellowship to support retraining and reskilling for individuals wanting to return to work within Physics or Engineering and join the field of Time & Frequency, based at NPL’s Teddington site.

NPL, the UK's National Measurement Institute, is a world-leading centre of excellence developing and applying the most accurate measurement standards, science, and technology. For over a century NPL has developed and maintained the nation's primary measurement standards: ensuring that cutting-edge measurement science and technology have a positive impact delivering world-leading measurement solutions critical to commercial research and development and supporting business success across the UK and the globe.

The Daphne Jackson Trust has been returning research professionals to their career for over 30 years. Our unique RTP Fellowships offer returning technicians the opportunity to conduct a bespoke retraining programme including unparallelled mentoring and support from the Trust.

Daphne Jackson Trust Research Technical Professional Retraining Fellowships

Daphne Jackson Fellowships are unique. They offer the opportunity to return to a career in research after a break of at least two years for family, caring or health reasons.

Our fellowships enable people to overcome the challenges of returning to a career as a researcher or research technical professional. They ensure that skills, talent, training and career promise are not lost.

We support applicants through the process, combining a personalised programme of retraining and mentorship. Our fellowships give you the confidence and skills you need to succeed and enable you to generate novel, high-quality research findings or make essential contributions to the technical research environment.

About the role

NPL is looking for someone with a passion for experimental physics and desire to return to their science & research career to join our Time and Frequency Department. Our portfolio of projects involves a broad range of complex systems including optical frequency combs, optical atomic clocks, ultrastable lasers and a fibre link network infrastructure, which interlinked through our mission to develop a new generation of optical clocks in anticipation of a redefinition of the SI second. You will use your analytical and problem-solving skills to contribute to the design, implementation, and/or operation of these systems which will push the boundary of measurement accuracy and stability. You will have a strong practical aptitude and will use your experience in experimental laboratory work to complete tasks requiring high attention to detail.

Highly desirable skills

Experience with lasers and optics, precision measurement, use of test and measurement instrumentation.
Proficient in relevant software e.g. Python & Labview for hardware interfacing, data acquisition and analysis.
Experience in electronics and RF/microwave hardware/instrumentation.
Sound instrumentation and electronics design skills.
Communicate clearly and collaborate with colleagues.
Enjoy problem solving and demonstrate critical thinking, assessing the pros and cons of your approach.
Understand the value of providing good customer service to customers (internal and external), exceeding customer expectations, and delivering high quality work with proactive communications.
Committed to personal development and learning opportunities

NPL believe success results from the diversity and talent of our people. See our Diversity & Inclusion page for more information.

How to apply

To be considered for this opportunity, in the first instance please send your CV. We will review your details in line with the role and if selected you will be sent a full job description and details on how to apply via our client’s portal.

Please note that for this new Research Technical Professional Fellowship a PhD is not essential. Only applicants with a career break of at least two years taken for family, caring, or health reasons can be considered for this role.

Closing date for applications is 25th November 2024

Following shortlisting by the Daphne Jackson Trust, NPL will undertake an internal selection process to identify the preferred candidates.

Daphne Jackson Trust jobs

Research Technical Professional Retraining Fellowship