Join the Cordiner Group

Based in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield, the Cordiner Group is a friendly, supportive, and highly collaborative team of Postdoctoral Research Associates (PDRAs), PhD candidates, and postgraduate researchers.

We sit squarely at the intersection of academic discovery and commercial translation. If you want to use advanced modeling to tackle massive real-world issues—from green hydrogen safety to national security resilience and digital twin manufacturing—you will find a home here.

Our Culture: Cultivating Independent Experts

We are passionate about breaking down the rigid structural barriers that historically separate industry and academia. Led by Professor Joan Cordiner, our group's primary objective is to train highly employable, adaptable engineers who can speak the languages of both corporate boardrooms and advanced research labs.

The Postdoc Environment Matters

"Grant funding has increasingly moved toward supporting postdoctoral researchers, yet short, temporary contracts can leave researchers feeling isolated or rushed. In our group, professional development, security, and true mentorship are foundational. We don't just treat you as contract researchers; we prepare you to lead your own labs, launch spinouts, or enter senior industry roles." — Professor Joan Cordiner

What We Provide

• Industry Mentorship & Network: Direct access to global networks in sectors like pharmaceuticals, energy, and aerospace.

• Commercial Pathways: Active support for research commercialization. Former members of our group (such as Dr. Louis Allen) have leveraged Innovate UK’s ICURe program and Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowships to transition doctoral work straight into venture-backed spinouts like Kausalyze.

• Comprehensive Training: Full integration into the University of Sheffield’s award-winning professional development programs and dedicated Postdoc Association framework.

Current Openings

We consistently look for curious minds from a variety of backgrounds, including Chemical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Materials Science, and Applied Mathematics.

1. Doctoral Opportunities (PhDs)

Our PhD researchers dive deep into core industrial problems over a 3.5 to 4-year lifecycle. We participate in major nationwide training networks.

• Featured Project: Condition-Based Risk Assessment of Ageing Nuclear Infrastructure (SATURN CDT)

  • Supervisors: Dr. Seyed Mojtaba Hoseyni & Prof. Joan Cordiner

  • Scope: Assessing material degradation and structural risk using data-driven and mechanistic tools. Funded via the SATURN Centre for Doctoral Training (consisting of Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, and other partner universities), providing a fully funded cohort experience, industry secondments, and a 3-month nuclear "bootcamp."

• General Expressions of Interest: We regularly accept applications for projects spanning:

  • Process safety of hydrogen transportation networks (linked with UK-Hyres).

  • Knowledge-Informed Machine Learning (KIML) for advanced formulations.

  • Kinetic modeling for the commercial scaling of mRNA vaccines.

2. Postdoctoral Positions (PDRAs)

Postdoctoral positions in our group are structured to build an elite portfolio toward standard faculty track appointments or high-level industrial R&D positions.

• Current Focus: We have recruited PDRAs specializing in hydrogen safety engineering, advanced spatiotemporal anomaly detection, or circular economy systems optimization. Check the official University of Sheffield jobs portal for currently advertised live vacancies.

How to Apply

 STEP 1: EXPLORE                  STEP 2: ENQUIRE                  STEP 3: FORMAL PORTAL

1. Review Our Work: Ensure your core background aligns with our core pillars (Process Safety, Digitalization, or Sustainability).

2. Informal Inquiry: Before submitting a formal university application, we strongly encourage sending a brief introductory email to Professor Joan Cordiner or the designated project supervisor. Include your CV, academic transcript summary, and a concise statement outlining why you want to work on that specific theme.

3. Formal Submission: Formal applications must be processed via the University of Sheffield Postgraduate/Jobs Portal. Always reference the project title and supervisor name explicitly in your application forms to ensure it is routed directly to our group.