Our client is a leading manufacturers of high performance monomers and oligomer for customers around the globe. They have an exciting project to design and synthesis innovative polymers at Cambridge University for industrial scale-up and manufacture. You will synthesising custom (meth)acrylic monomers and oligomers and support the commercialisation, manufacture and formulation.. All synthesis work will be geared towards reactions, materials and processes suitable for scaling to industrial quantities. Newly qualified PhD Chemists will be given training.
Responsibilities and Duties:
The position reports to the Group Senior Chemist.
Informal reporting will be required on a weekly basis with monthly formal reporting.
Excellence in lab-note taking and record keeping is expected.
Most of the regular work will be carried out with the Synthetic Chemist embedded within a research group/company based in the University of Cambridge laboratories.
Aspects of the work may include:
Literature searching/review.
Testing and modification of synthetic routes.
Analysis of reaction products and by-products.
Yield and purity optimisation.
Technology transfer (scale-up)
On a daily basis, the Synthetic Chemist will not be under close supervision and should therefore be a self-starter with a pro-active attitude capable of seeking out instructions if necessary.
The Synthetic chemist will be making (meth)acrylate functional materials via various routes, analysing them and sending samples out for assessment.
Skills and Qualifications:
Qualified in Chemistry to either MSc or PhD level.
Experience of polymer synthesis, ideally acrylic monomers & oligomers would be preferred
Wide range of synthetic methods preferred
Experienced with:
Vacuum distillation.
Synthesis of viscous materials.
Analysis of insoluble and non-volatile liquids
Familiarity with retrosynthetic analysis preferred.
Experience handling synthesis sizes form 10g to 1000g
Ability to read and interpret synthetic chemistry patents.
Appreciation of the difference between lab and industrial synthesis preferred.
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be resident in the UK
This is a great opportunity to join the special project team to lead the development of innovative monomers and oligomers. There will be opportunity for career progression and development within this leading organisation.