Material Scientist

The RoleAt Notpla, we are at the forefront of sustainable innovation, creating natural alternatives to single-use plastic packaging from seaweed and plants. As a Material Scientist, you will drive scientific and technological innovations to develop revolutionary natural materials to replace plastic. This role requires expertise in Materials Science, biomaterials, green chemistry, and material processing.This is an exciting period for Notpla, with a record-breaking revenue year and significant growth planned. We have secured a Series A+ funding of £20 million to accelerate our growth and environmental impact.The Material Scientist will report to the Innovation Director and collaborate with the technical team, labs, and product portfolio teams. We foster an autonomous, responsible work environment rooted in strong values, aiming to build an inspiring culture.We offer competitive salaries, potential EMI Share Options, a zero-carbon pension scheme, discounts, social activities, and a hybrid working policy. Our diverse, collaborative community is dedicated to making plastic disappear.Your role involves contributing to innovative projects by developing new materials and scaling lab innovations to pilot stages. You will expand your expertise in Material Science, Process Engineering, and project management, working on feasibility studies, discovery projects, trials, and more. Collaboration across teams, scouting for new technologies, analyzing results, and engaging with scientific networks are key responsibilities.Your profileWe seek a communicator capable of explaining complex concepts clearly. Ideally, you have at least 2 years of industry experience in materials R&D, with exposure to natural materials and processing techniques like extrusion or injection molding. Comfort with ambiguity and multi-project coordination is essential. Responsibilities include:Conducting feasibility studies and discovery projects in material science and packagingCollaborating with designers, engineers, and specialistsSourcing and testing natural materials, developing formulations for performance and sustainabilityDesigning experiments, analyzing data, and presenting findingsInnovating solutions for material and processing challengesOptimizing material processing and formulationsStaying updated with scientific advancementsContributing to IP development and funding proposalsSupporting fundamental research on seaweed and biomaterialsManaging material trials and scaling solutions from lab to pilotCharacterizing material performance and conducting compatibility testsRepresenting Notpla at external events and coordinating with academic and commercial labsSalaryUp to £35,000 #J-18808-Ljbffr