Senior Scientist Polymer Synthesis

Senior Scientist – Polymer Synthesis / Cambridgeshire / £30 – £40k

Our client is a growing chemical and materials company, which has developed an award-winning platform technology for providing micro encapsulation solutions in diverse fields, such as home care, health and beauty, food and agriculture. The company has just received seed investment and is in its rapid growth phase to address multiple markets via joint R&D projects with industry leaders. The company is currently looking for talented people to join the team to achieve the next milestones.

Key aspects of the role include:
● The primary responsibility of this position will be to conduct synthesis of functional polymers tailored for use in microcapsules for various applications
● Works in close collaboration with colleagues whose focus is on developing microcapsule prototypes applied to different application contexts.
● Interprets data and provides recommendations for future work
● Periodically prepares research reports by collecting, analysing and summarising data; gives presentations for both internal and external audience
● Maintains safe and clean work environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations and good manufacturing practices
● Documents and links all experiments in a neat and organised fashion within the lab notebooks

The ideal candidate will have an above average PhD with experience or a Masters Degree with significant experience The following key skills are sought:

● PhD (or Masters) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science or related field
● Strong organic synthesis expertise, preferably with experience in both condensation and addition polymer chemistry at both bench and larger scales
● Experience with microencapsulation and surface chemistry would be a plus
● Experience in industrial R&D, though not necessary, would be an asset since development of cost-effective solutions will become critical to the company’s success
● A “can do” attitude

Demonstrated skills and competencies:
● Attention to laboratory safety and hazard analysis
● Creative technical problem solving
● Ability to work well in inter-disciplinary teams
● Effective use of scientific literature, patents and search methods
● Excellent oral and written communication skills
● Ability to handle multiple tasks and responsibilities
● Strong potential for project and team leadership
● Passion about working in an early-stage company where flexibility is key

The employment package includes competitive salary, employee share options and insurance. The position will be based in Cambridge, UK.