At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead R&D programmes for sustainable coatings and packaging technologies.
- Company: Join Metalchemy, an award-winning deep-tech company making a real environmental impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 30 days annual leave, and strong career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team focused on translating science into commercially successful products.
- Why this job: Make a difference by developing innovative materials that reduce food waste and enhance sustainability.
- Qualifications: PhD in relevant fields with strong research experience and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 33000 - 36000 £ per year.
Location: Lambeth, South West London (laboratory-based/in-person role)
Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 9:00am-6:00pm (42.5 hours per week)
Salary: £33,000–£36,000 gross per year depending on experience, with strong progression opportunities based on performance and contribution.
About Metalchemy
Metalchemy is an award-winning UK deep-tech company developing and commercialising patented sustainable coating and advanced materials technologies for food packaging and other high-impact applications. Our mission is to create measurable environmental impact through the successful commercialisation of science. We develop antimicrobial and functional materials that help reduce food waste, improve product performance, and enable more sustainable packaging and supply chains.
The Role
We are seeking an ambitious and commercially minded PhD-level scientist with expertise in coatings, polymers, formulations, biomaterials, packaging materials, or related technologies to help develop the next generation of sustainable coating systems and functional materials. The primary focus of the role will be the development of technologies for food packaging and food-contact applications, with opportunities to contribute to healthcare and other industrial sectors as Metalchemy's technology platform expands.
You will work across a broad range of materials and substrates including paper, fibre-based packaging, cellulose materials, biopolymers, compostable materials, synthetic polymers, composites, and coated materials. Working closely with senior scientists, customers, manufacturers, academic collaborators, and industry partners, you will play a key role in delivering customer projects, grant-funded innovation programmes, publications, patents, and commercially deployable technologies.
This is a high-impact role offering significant responsibility, rapid professional development, and clear progression opportunities. Within your first year, you will be expected to contribute independently to research programmes, support multiple concurrent client and innovation projects, and become a trusted technical contributor across scientific, customer-facing, and collaborative activities.
Responsibilities
- Lead and deliver R&D programmes focused on sustainable coatings, food & packaging technologies, antimicrobial materials, and advanced material systems, generating high-quality scientific outputs that support customer projects, grant-funded innovation programmes, publications, intellectual property, and commercial deployment.
- Develop, optimise, and validate coatings, bio-coatings, formulations, composites, colloidal systems, and functional materials across a range of substrates including paper, fibre-based packaging, biopolymers, compostable materials, and synthetic polymers, ensuring scientific rigour and technical excellence throughout the development process.
- Manage and contribute to multiple concurrent customer, grant-funded, and internal innovation projects, delivering technical milestones, project objectives, reports, and experimental outputs to a high standard and within agreed timelines.
- Support customer projects through technical leadership, product validation, application development, trial design, data interpretation, and the preparation of technical deliverables that enable successful project outcomes and long-term customer relationships.
- Contribute to the preparation, delivery, and reporting of grant-funded programmes, collaborative R&D projects, and innovation funding applications, helping secure and successfully execute externally funded innovation activities.
- Prepare and deliver technical reports, customer presentations, scientific publications, conference papers, white papers, case studies, and dissemination materials, effectively communicating technical outcomes to scientific, industrial, and commercial audiences.
- Build strong relationships with customers, academic collaborators, manufacturers, research organisations, and industry partners while contributing to technology commercialisation, strategic partnerships, intellectual property generation, and the continued growth of Metalchemy.
Requirements
Essential
- PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Food Packaging, Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomaterials, Coatings Science, or a related discipline
- Strong experimental research experience gained through doctoral studies
- Experience in at least one of the following areas:
- Coatings and formulations
- Polymer science and engineering
- Packaging materials
- Functional surfaces
- Biomaterials
- Active or antimicrobial packaging
- Colloidal systems and dispersions
- Excellent scientific writing, reporting, and presentation skills
- Strong data analysis and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
- Interest in translating scientific innovation into commercially successful products
Highly Desirable
- Research focused on active packaging, food-contact materials, barrier coatings, antimicrobial technologies, bio-coatings, cellulose-based materials, or sustainable packaging
- Experience developing coatings, formulations, composites, functional materials, or advanced material systems
- Experience with silver-based materials, antimicrobial additives, nanomaterials, colloids, dispersions, or surface-engineered materials
- Experience working with paper-based packaging, fibre-based materials, biopolymers, compostable materials, synthetic polymers, or composite substrates
- Knowledge of food-contact regulations, packaging compliance, and food safety requirements
- Experience with industrial collaborations, grant-funded research, publications, patents, or technology commercialisation
- Experience using Design of Experiments (DoE), statistical analysis, machine learning tools, or AI-enabled R&D workflows
What Success Looks Like
- Contribute to the successful delivery of 3-5 concurrent innovation projects across coatings, packaging, and advanced materials
- Develop increasing ownership of specific research programmes, technology platforms, or customer projects
- Deliver high-quality technical reports, presentations, publications, and experimental outputs that support decision-making and product development
- Generate robust scientific data that contributes to customer validation, commercial deployment, intellectual property generation, and business growth
- Contribute to grant applications, funded innovation programmes, patents, scientific publications, and customer-facing case studies
- Present technical findings confidently to customers, industry partners, funding bodies, collaborators, and internal stakeholders
- Build strong relationships with customers, academic collaborators, manufacturers, and industry partners
- Become a trusted technical contributor across both scientific and commercial activities
- Demonstrate the ability to translate research into practical, commercially relevant solutions that create measurable impact
Why Join Metalchemy?
- Join an award-winning deep-tech company developing patented technologies with measurable environmental and commercial impact
- Work directly with founders, senior scientists, customers, manufacturers, universities, and strategic partners
- Gain exposure to the full innovation lifecycle, from laboratory research and product development through to customer deployment and commercial scale-up
- Contribute to patents, publications, grant-funded programmes, customer projects, and new product launches
- Work across diverse technologies, materials, and applications including food packaging, coatings, biomaterials, healthcare, and sustainability-focused innovation
- Develop expertise in modern R&D approaches including Design of Experiments (DoE), AI-enabled workflows, data-driven experimentation, and technology commercialisation
- Take on significant responsibility and ownership from an early stage in your career
- Benefit from strong opportunities for progression into senior technical, innovation, and project leadership roles based on performance and contribution
- Be part of a high-growth, commercially driven company where scientific innovation is translated into real-world products and measurable environmental impact
- 30 days annual leave including bank holidays
R&D Scientist - Sustainable Coatings & Packaging Technologies in Slough employer: Metalchemy
Metalchemy is an exceptional employer located in Lambeth, South West London, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a high-growth deep-tech company, we provide our R&D Scientists with significant responsibility, strong progression opportunities, and the chance to contribute to impactful projects in sustainable coatings and packaging technologies. Employees benefit from a supportive environment that encourages professional development, exposure to cutting-edge research, and the ability to make a tangible difference in environmental sustainability.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land R&D Scientist - Sustainable Coatings & Packaging Technologies in Slough
✨Get Involved in Local Research Communities
Tap into local biotechnology meetups and research forums. These are great places to mingle with industry professionals, share your passion, and even discover unadvertised job openings. It's all about getting your face known in the field!
✨Leverage University Alumni Networks
If you're a recent grad, don’t underestimate the power of your university’s alumni network! Reach out to alumni working in biotechnology to gather tips about job openings at companies like Metalchemy. You'd be surprised how willing people are to help out a fellow grad!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Curate a portfolio showcasing any research projects or internships you've completed in biotechnology. This tangible evidence of your skills can really impress employers when you chat with them at networking events or interviews. It's about making that killer first impression!
✨Stay Up-to-Date with Industry Trends
Biotech is a fast-paced field, so keeping yourself updated with the latest advancements is crucial. Attend industry conferences, webinars, or workshops to broaden your knowledge and meet potential employers. Plus, it’ll give you fantastic talking points for your interviews at places like Metalchemy!
We think you need these skills to ace R&D Scientist - Sustainable Coatings & Packaging Technologies in Slough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Lab Skills:In the biotechnology field, it's super important to highlight your lab experience in your CV. Be sure to mention specific techniques or instruments you've mastered (think PCR, gel electrophoresis, etc.) and any relevant projects you've worked on. This will show Metalchemy that you have the hands-on skills they need.
Tailor Your Technical Skills:Make sure to emphasise your technical skills, especially those relevant to the biotechnology sector. Include any software tools or programming languages you've used, like R or Python for data analysis, which could be key for this role at Metalchemy.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Since this is a full-time role, your cover letter should reflect not only your passion for biotechnology but also your long-term career ambitions. Share why you're excited about the work that Metalchemy does and how you envision contributing to their goals. This shows that you’re not just looking for any job, but you're genuinely invested in this opportunity.
Include Your Papers and Projects:If you've published any papers or contributed to significant projects, mention them! These documents can boost your application and provide tangible evidence of your expertise in the biotechnology field. Don’t forget to link to any relevant publications or project summaries—this can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Metalchemy
✨Brush Up on Lab Techniques
Since you're eyeing a full-time gig in biotechnology, make sure you're well-versed in the lab techniques relevant to the role. Be ready to talk about PCR, CRISPR, or any specific methods mentioned in the job description at Metalchemy. You might even be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these processes.
✨Know Your Bioinformatics Tools
Get comfortable with bioinformatics tools that are commonly used in the industry, like BLAST or Bioconductor. These are key in biotechnology, and having hands-on experience or at least familiarity can set you apart. Prepare to discuss any relevant projects you've worked on, especially if they involved data analysis or genomic research.
✨Show Your Teamwork Skills
Biotech often involves collaboration across multiple disciplines. Be ready to share stories that highlight your teamwork and communication skills, especially in research projects. Think about working with different teams at university or any internships – this is where you can show how well you fit into Metalchemy's culture.
✨Research Recent Biotech Innovations
Stay updated on the latest trends and breakthroughs in biotechnology. Knowing what's happening in the field can help you engage in more meaningful discussions during your interview. Bring up recent articles or advancements that excite you, especially those related to the work being done at Metalchemy. This shows your passion for the industry!
