Research Chemist (Metals) in Lancaster

We have an exciting opportunity for an Inorganic Research Chemist to join our Analytical Chemistry team in Lancaster, within the acclaimed Environmental Pressures and Responses Group. This multidisciplinary team is at the forefront of understanding how pollution, land-use change, and climate pressures affect ecosystems. Working across air, land, and water, we generate high-quality evidence that directly informs action on environmental change.

We are looking for a motivated analytical chemist with strong expertise in inorganic analysis, in particular metal analysis, who is driven by scientific excellence and real‑world impact. In this role, you will collaborate widely across UKCEH and the broader scientific community, helping to shape innovative research ideas and secure funding. You will thrive if you are creative, collaborative, and proactive, bringing accuracy, curiosity, and a passion for solving complex problems. Innovation is encouraged, and your analytical insight will directly enhance the team’s capability. We are particularly interested in chemists who enjoy developing research ideas, building partnerships, writing grant applications, and seeking funding opportunities.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Leading the development of analytical methods arising from new scientific and funding opportunities, including method validation and the preparation of robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Generating income through writing bids, grant applications, and tender responses.
• Contributing to, and leading where appropriate, high‑impact scientific outputs, providing analytical data and methodological content for peer‑reviewed publications, customer reports, presentations, and book or book chapters.
• Ensuring the quality and integrity of analytical data, including oversight of data generation where required.
• Training, mentoring, and supervising laboratory staff, supporting skills development and maintaining high technical standards across the team.
• Managing laboratory operations, including responsibility for the safe use of facilities, compliance with COSHH, and day‑to‑day lab management.
• Working within the laboratory quality system and ISO 17025, including managing inorganic non‑conforming work investigations and undertaking internal audits across the group.
• Liaising directly with instrument manufacturers, contributing to the evaluation and selection of new analytical instrumentation.
• Performing routine analyses when required, ensuring continuity and resilience of laboratory capability.
• As the role develops, there may be opportunities to take on line management responsibilities.

You will join a well‑established team working in world‑class laboratories, equipped with cutting‑edge analytical instrumentation, advanced methodologies, and comprehensive sample preparation facilities. You will contribute to the delivery of high‑quality, innovative analytical data, including work accredited to UKAS ISO 17025:2017, supporting a wide range of impactful projects. The Lancaster laboratories have achieved the highest certification (Gold) under the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF), the world’s largest green laboratory certification scheme.

For the role of Research Chemist, we’re looking for somebody who has:

• A PhD in Environmental Chemistry, or a MSc in Environmental Chemistry (or related discipline) with substantial laboratory experience.
• A solid grounding in environmental chemistry, with particular expertise in how metals behave and can be analysed in diverse environmental matrices.
• Proven experience in environmental chemical analyses with working knowledge of ICP‑MS, ICP‑OES, and XRF techniques (incl. method development and optimisation).
• Specialist knowledge of method development for metals analysis in niche matrices and at trace levels.
• Established track record of publishing in peer‑reviewed journals and delivering impactful presentations at scientific conferences.
• Demonstrable success in securing research funding through competitive bids.

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not‑for‑profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.

Working for UKCEH is rewarding. We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing‑oriented perks, such as:

• 27 days annual leave (rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service) plus 3 days for Christmas closure.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role dependant).
• Peer reward and recognition scheme.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• 24‑hour, 365‑day support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues and much more.

How to Apply

If this opportunity aligns with your career aspirations, we would be pleased to receive your application. Please submit your CV together with a short Supporting Statement of 450–600 words, structured in response to the three questions below. (*Please note that cover letters will not be accepted and will not be considered as part of the application process).

• Funding and bids: Describe a funding opportunity you identified or pursued, why it was prioritised, and how you developed a competitive proposal.
• Analytical innovation: Give an example of developing or adapting an inorganic analytical approach. What challenges did you face, how were they overcome, and what was the outcome?
• Networking and communication: Describe effective networking practices you use to support collaboration, and how you have shared your work with the scientific community or stakeholders.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

At UKCEH, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and circumstances. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and people with disabilities, and we’re happy to provide adjustments or support at any stage of the recruitment process – just let us know. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we’d love to hear from you anyway. You may be just the right fit for this role or another within our wider team.

Please note: Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role and this does not qualify for endorsement to support a Global Talent Visa application. If you are considering pursuing self‑sponsorship, please indicate this in your application so we can take it into account during the recruitment process.