Research Technical Professional retraining and reskilling opportunity with a Daphne Jackson RTP Fellowship hosted by Northumbria University
The Daphne Jackson Trust has launched a new fellowship for Research Technical Professionals (RTP) who have taken a career break of at least two years for family, health or caring reasons and want to return to a technical role in research. This fellowship offers a personalised retraining and reskilling programme for the successful applicant.
Applications
Applications are now being invited for a Daphne Jackson Research Technical Professional Fellowship within the School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics at Northumbria University. This could be either at one-year full time, 18-month part time at 0.75FTE or a two-year, part-time at 0.5FTE or another combination to suit the applicant. This opportunity is designed for individuals returning to work in a technical field within Engineering or Physics and is based in the Ellison Building on our City Campus in Newcastle upon Tyne.
About Northumbria University
Northumbria University is a research-intensive institution unlocking potential and changing lives locally and globally. Named Times Higher Education’s University of the Year in 2022 and Modern University of the Year in 2025, we rank top 25 in the UK for research power. Northumbria University holds a Silver Athena Swan Award.
Technical staff support teaching and research across Physics and Engineering in research laboratories, workshops and specialist learning spaces. The School’s activities cover a broad range of areas, including astrophysics, space science, smart materials, photonics, renewable energy technologies, materials, manufacturing and automotive engineering, battery technologies and electrical and civil engineering. We take a highly collaborative approach, working with a diverse range of academic and industry partners.
You will join a collaborative community of researchers and technical professionals, contributing to one of the School’s specialist areas aligned to your background and expertise. While the role will focus on a specific discipline within Physics or Engineering, you will also have opportunities to work alongside colleagues from related fields, supporting interdisciplinary research and teaching activities. Our world-leading research is closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with active research groups spanning areas such as climate change, resilient infrastructure, sustainable energy systems and materials and space science.
About the role
We are looking for a research technical professional who has taken a career break of two or more years for caring, health or family reasons and who is now looking to return to their career.
You will contribute to departmental objectives by planning and prioritising your work effectively, while supporting colleagues. The role involves contributing to the continuous improvement of processes and practices, maintaining professional knowledge and keeping up to date with emerging technologies.
You will provide technical support to staff and students in the safe and effective use of specialist equipment and facilities, offering guidance on technical concepts, delivering training and demonstrations and promoting safe working practices.
You will be encouraged to enhance your existing skills and develop expertise in one or more specialist areas while building a broad and versatile technical skillset. Within Engineering, you will have the opportunity to work with advanced equipment across a range of disciplines, including materials testing, rapid prototyping, PCB manufacturing, high-voltage systems, battery testing, nanocomposites, wind tunnel and/or civil engineering materials.
Within the Physics Department, you could work with thin-film deposition systems, microscopy and analytical techniques (SEM, FIB, XRD and profilometry), as well as high-intensity lasers, optical communication technologies and solar simulations. You may also gain experience with a wide range of environmental testing equipment used for space applications, including thermal vacuum chambers, radiation and vibration testing systems. In addition, the role provides exposure to advanced materials fabrication processes, including photolithography and chemical processing techniques.
You will contribute to teaching, research and enterprise activities through the preparation, setup and ongoing support of practical work, laboratory operations and collaborative research projects. This includes applying specialist techniques, generating high-quality research data and supporting the development of experimental and analytical methods. The role also involves the operation, monitoring, maintenance, calibration, installation, commissioning and first-line troubleshooting of equipment while ensuring compliance with H&S standards.
We are looking for an individual with a degree in a relevant subject or equivalent practical/professional experience with experience of working in a laboratory, workshop, technical, or similar practical environment prior to your career break. You will have an understanding of H&S requirements, relevant scientific or engineering principles, and the use of technical equipment or systems. We are looking for an individual, who can work both independently and as part of a team, manage competing priorities and demonstrate good organisational, IT and numeracy skills. A willingness to learn, develop new technical expertise, and contribute positively within a collaborative technical environment is essential.
You will be supported to refresh, retrain and further develop your skills within a collaborative environment, building a broad technical capability. We are looking for a flexible, detail‑oriented individual with strong problem‑solving and communication skills, alongside an understanding of safe working practices and experience in a technical or research setting.
The successful candidate will be based in the Ellison Building on City Campus, supporting facilities across A, C and E Blocks as part of a multidisciplinary technical team of three Scientific Officers, sixteen Senior Technicians, five Technicians and one Apprentice, led by two Technical Managers.
The role will typically operate within the hours of Monday to Friday, 9:00–17:00, with flexibility in working arrangements depending on the agreed FTE pattern and the candidate’s preferences.
A printable copy of this advert can be found here
Further details
For further information about these opportunities at Northumbria University please contact Demelza Menendez (demelza.menendez@northumbria.ac.uk ).
For further details about the role, eligibility criteria or to apply, please email djmft@surrey.ac.uk. To find out more about the Daphne Jackson Trust and other fellowship opportunities please visit www.daphnejackson.org Please note that for this re-training Research Technical Professional Fellowship a PhD is not a requirement. The role is designed to support individuals returning to a technical career path. However, candidates interested in applying for certain Scientific Officer roles in some areas of Physics, should be aware that postgraduate study may be required, reflecting the higher level of specialisation associated with these positions.
Closing date for applications is Monday 14th September 2026
Following shortlisting by the Daphne Jackson Trust, Northumbria University will undertake an internal selection process to identify the preferred candidates.