PhD Graduate Chemist

We have an exciting opportunity for a PhD Graduate Chemist to join as a growing team at Concrete4Change. Please apply using an academic CV.

We will not sponsor international applicants for this role. You MUST have unrestricted right to work in the UK for this role.

Job Title: Graduate Chemist

Location: Nottingham

Remuneration: Above market Salary Including

• Basic Salary + Car Allowance
• Generous bonus scheme
• Generous share scheme
• Private Healthcare

About us:

Concrete4Change (C4C) is a R&D company that is developing a ground-breaking technology to utilise and permanently mineralise CO2 in concrete. To date, C4C raised £4.5 million from private and public investors. The company is partly owned by two of the largest concrete manufacturers in the world, Siam Cement Group ($17 billion turnover) and Goldbeck GmbH (€7 billion turnover).

C4C technology won a wide range of awards including

2021, The most innovative Net-Zero project from UN COP26 Climate Challenge Cup

2021, SDG award from the European technology chamber

2022, Top 10 startups from Royal Academy of Engineer (£20k)

2022, Santander X Prize – Global Countdown to Net-Zero (worldwide)

2022, Top 50 start-up award from PWC

2023, Startups 100 2023 Award Winner

2023, Hard Tech Investment of the Year from UK Business Angel Association

Job

This position has a significant progress opportunity in a fast-growing team. You will be part of the core building blocks of C4C, directly contribute to C4C’s growth.

Please see the person's specifications and roles & responsibilities below:

Essential:

• BSc in Chemistry (1st class honours).
• PhD in Chemistry.
• Provent track record of demonstrating initiative, high agency and achievement.
• Eager to learn new techniques, dig deeply into chemistry and help synthesis new chemical formulations.
• Knowledge of Chemistry: Strong knowledge of fundamental principles and concepts in chemistry is essential. This includes a solid understanding of chemical reactions, thermodynamics, materials science, and spectroscopy.
• Laboratory Skills: Proficiency in laboratory techniques and procedures is necessary. This includes knowledge of synthesis, characterisation, and testing of materials, as well as handling and analysing chemical samples.
• Research Skills: Ability to conduct literature reviews, gather relevant information, and stay updated on the latest advancements in CO2 utilisation development. Strong research skills enable critical analysis and synthesis of scientific literature.

Desirable:

• Proficiency in statistical analysis and data visualisation software may be useful.
• Analytical Instrumentation: Familiarity with various analytical techniques and instruments used in characterizing materials, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gas sorption analysers, and thermal analysis instruments (TGA, DSC).
• Demonstratable of characterisation methodology development of complex systems of organic and inorganic materials including polymers, and solid adsorbents
• R&D experience in fields of adsorption, adsorbent design, separation technologies, catalyst, materials surface functionalisation, carbon capture, surface chemistry or polymer.
• Experience in computational chemistry, analysis and simulation of synthetic materials
• Experience in carbon capture utilisation and storage
• Experience in the mineralisation of CO2 for various applications.
• Understanding concrete and cement chemistry

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Independent self-starter who can learn about new technologies, develop a deep understanding of characterisation methodologies, and quickly learn and contribute to chemical synthesis.
• Experimental Design and Setup: Assist in designing and setting up experiments to evaluate the performance of CO2 sorbents. This involves selecting appropriate materials, designing experimental conditions, and ensuring the proper functioning of equipment and instruments.
• Synthesis and Characterization: Prepare and synthesize different CO2 sorbent materials using various methods such as sol-gel, precipitation, or ion exchange. Characterize the synthesized materials using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermal analysis (e.g., TGA, DSC) to determine their structural and chemical properties.
• Data Analysis and Interpretation: Analyze experimental data using statistical tools and software to draw meaningful conclusions. Interpret the results to identify trends, optimize the performance of CO2 sorbents, and provide suggestions for further improvements.
• Collaboration and Communication: Work collaboratively with other team members, including senior researchers and engineers, to share findings, discuss progress, and troubleshoot challenges. Clearly communicate research findings through written reports, presentations, and internal meetings.
• Safety and Compliance: Adhere to safety protocols and guidelines while working in the laboratory. Ensure proper handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals and waste. Comply with relevant regulatory and ethical standards in research and development activities.
• Documentation and Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and organized records of experimental procedures, data, and results. Keep an updated laboratory notebook, record observations, and document any modifications made during the development process.
• Continuous Learning and Skill Development: Stay abreast of emerging technologies and techniques in CO2 sorbent development. Attend workshops, conferences, and training sessions to enhance knowledge and skills in the field.
• Troubleshooting and Problem-Solving: Identify and address any issues or challenges that arise during the development process. Troubleshoot experimental setups, optimize procedures, and propose innovative solutions to improve the efficiency and performance of CO2 sorbents.
• Plan, procure and manage the chemical laboratory in line with regulations.

Benefits:

C4C is seeking people who want to do applied science, with an entrepreneurial spirit and use their skills to build a sustainable world. We offer typical employee benefits plus a share of what we will build together.

• A unique opportunity to work with top universities in the UK
• An exciting opportunity to work with Multibillion Concrete Companies
• A competitive annual holiday entitlement.
• A pension scheme
• A competitive bonus upon achieving milestones
• Unrivalled career progression pathway.
• Private Healthcare

Next Steps:

To apply please send a copy of your academic CV to careers@concrete4change.com.