At a Glance
- Tasks: Research and develop sustainable biodegradable polymers to reduce environmental impact.
- Company: University of Nottingham, a leader in innovative research and diversity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive community, and opportunities for collaboration.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equality and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in sustainability while working with industry experts.
- Qualifications: PhD in chemistry, polymer chemistry, or chemical engineering required.
The predicted salary is between 34000 - 34000 £ per year.
Salary £34,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
Area: Chemical & Environmental Engineering
Location: University Park
Closing Date: Friday 04 September 2026
Reference: ENG1901026
Applications are invited for the above research post that is part of a large and exciting multi-disciplinary collaboration involving both academia and industry. The project will develop sustainable routes toward the synthesis and manufacture of novel biodegradable polymers. In turn, these new functional materials will be constructed from new monomers derived from renewable sources. These new and unique building blocks are also being developed with the larger project group.
The successful candidate will be researching into a novel class of polymers that are being developed and synthesised in the labs of Croda Ltd, and Nottingham, which show great promise in reducing the environmental footprints of Polymer Liquid Formulations (PLF). These materials are used in personal care products, so the polymers being developed in this project will significantly reduce the environmental polymer burden that results from personal care products, such as shampoos and soaps.
The larger group also contains collaborators at the University of York, which is focusing on the development of new sustainable monomers. Collaborations across the whole team are very strongly encouraged and there will be the opportunity to present the research at both internal and external meetings.
The supervisory team reflects the strong industry/academia collaboration as it contains supervisors from the Faculty of Engineering (Derek Irvine), the School of Chemistry (Vincenzo Taresco) and Croda Ltd (Daniel Day). There will also be opportunities to work with the Croda teams in their laboratories as part of the scale-up process in real commercial scenarios.
The University values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity. The University of Nottingham holds an Athena Swan Institutional Gold Award in recognition of our commitment to advancing women's careers in science. The University of Nottingham is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
The post is offered on a full-time (36.25 hours per week), fixed-term contract for 18 months and has a starting salary of £34,000. Job share arrangements may be considered.
Candidates should have, or be close to completing, a PhD in chemistry, polymer chemistry, chemical engineering or a related area.
Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof Derek.Irvine@nottingham.ac.uk and Dr Vincenzo.Taresco@nottingham.ac.uk. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.
Our university is a supportive, inclusive, caring and positive community. We welcome those of different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs – indeed this very diversity is vital to our success, it is fundamental to our values and enriches life on campus.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) employer. Increasing the diversity of our community is extremely important to us and we are committed to the aims of the Disability Confident Scheme. We are the first university to have achieved the Athena Swan Gold Award.
To help you succeed, we published Candidate Guidance to provide support on the application and interview process. Discover our benefits, visit Your Benefits website. We welcome applications from UK, Europe and worldwide and aim to make your move to the UK as smooth as possible. Visit the Moving to Nottingham page for details.
Your application will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as set out by UK Visas & Immigration.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Sustainable Biodegradable Polymer Synthesis and Upscaling (Fixe[...] in Nottingham employer: University Of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that values teamwork and individual contributions. Employees benefit from flexible working hours, access to health facilities, and a generous holiday allowance, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful part-time employment while contributing to a vibrant academic community.
