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Research Scientist
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Research Scientists – Polymer & Organic Chemistry (Levels 1 & 2)
Sedgefield (NETPark) | 12-Month Fixed-Term Contracts
Salary: £26,939 – £43,727 depending on experience and level
About the Role
We are seeking two Research Scientists to join our established Nanomaterials & Composites Team within the Advanced Materials & Devices technology centre at NETPark, Sedgefield. These positions support a major programme of work in sustainable materials, polymer technologies, process development, and advanced manufacturing.
This campaign is being run as a combined recruitment process for two hires. Successful candidates will be appointed at either Research Scientist 1 or Research Scientist 2 level, depending on qualifications, industrial experience, and technical capability demonstrated throughout the recruitment process.
One of these roles will be focused on polymer chemistry, and we are particularly keen to attract candidates with expertise in polymer synthesis and polymerisation. The second role may be broader, supporting activities across organic synthesis, coatings, paints, adhesives, or related formulation technologies including sustainable materials, process development, and formulation science.
These are highly practical, laboratory-based roles, with approximately two-thirds of your time spent undertaking hands-on experimental work, pilot-scale activities, and technical development programmes. The remaining time will involve data analysis, reporting, customer projects, and collaboration with colleagues across the business.
What You'll Be Responsible For
Polymer & Organic Chemistry
- Design, plan, and execute laboratory and pilot-scale experiments.
- Support research and development activities in:
- Organic synthesis
- Polymer chemistry
- Sustainable polymer materials
- Coatings and formulated products
- Process development and scale-up
- Contribute to the development of innovative materials and technologies for commercial and collaborative R&D projects.
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Experimental & Pilot-Scale Work
- Set up, execute, and monitor laboratory and pilot-scale experiments.
- Analyse, interpret, and report experimental data.
- Maintain accurate technical records, calculations, methodologies, and project documentation.
- Support the maintenance, calibration, and safe operation of laboratory and pilot equipment.
Project Delivery
- Deliver technical work packages to agreed timescales and quality standards.
- Work closely with project managers and senior scientists to support customer programmes.
- Present technical findings through reports, presentations, and internal reviews.
- Support customer-facing projects and collaborative R&D activities.
Innovation & Business Development
- Contribute to proposal development and bid activities.
- Support customer engagement and technical discussions.
- Build networks across technical teams and external collaborators.
- Help identify opportunities for future projects and capability development.
About You
We are interested in candidates across a range of experience levels, from recent graduates through to PhD-qualified researchers and scientists with several years of industrial experience.
Research Scientist 1
- Typically suited to candidates with:
- A BSc or MSc in:
- Polymer Chemistry, Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or a related scientific discipline
- Practical laboratory experience gained through university research, placements, or industry.
- An interest in polymer synthesis, coatings, formulation, or process development.
- A BSc or MSc in:
Research Scientist 2
- Typically suited to candidates with:
- A PhD or equivalent industrial experience in Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field.
- Experience delivering technical projects within academic or industrial environments.
- Experience applying scientific knowledge to process development and product innovation.
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Particularly Relevant Experience
We would be especially interested in candidates with experience in:
- Polymer chemistry and polymer synthesis
- Organic chemistry and synthetic chemistry
- Coatings, paints, adhesives, or formulated products
- Sustainable materials
- Process development and scale-up
- Pilot-scale experimentation
- Reaction monitoring and purification techniques
- Polymer characterisation
- Step-growth polymerisation
- Radical polymerisation
- Analytical techniques such as NMR, FT-IR, GPC, DSC, or related methods
Experience in polymer chemistry is particularly desirable for at least one of the positions.
Why Join?
- Work on cutting-edge projects in sustainable materials and advanced manufacturing.
- Gain exposure to both commercial and collaborative R&D programmes.
- Join a multidisciplinary team delivering innovation across multiple sectors.
- Work at the interface between academic research and industrial application.
- Opportunity to develop expertise across polymer chemistry, materials science, and process development.
The Opportunity
These roles offer an excellent opportunity to join one of the leading materials science teams and contribute to the development of next-generation sustainable materials and polymer technologies. Whether you're an early-career scientist looking to build industrial experience or a PhD-qualified researcher seeking exposure to commercially focused R&D, you'll work on a diverse portfolio of projects spanning fundamental science, product development, and scale-up.
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