Barrington James has has an exciting opportunity to work with our client based in Clydebank for an R&D Chemist with strong experience within Polymer Chemistry.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities:
* Collaborate with operational colleagues to drive continuous improvement projects, focusing on enhancing yield, efficiency, and quality in manufacturing processes, as well as informing future facility design.
* Expand the range of chitin and chitosan grades and varieties offered by the company.
* Formulate chitin and chitosan-based products for high-value commercial applications.
* Advance company knowledge and intellectual property related to chitin and chitosan through analytical testing and functional experiments.
* Assess the suitability of new raw material feedstocks to diversify the company's product range and bolster future production capabilities.
* Work closely with commercial teams and clients to understand and fulfill their requirements.
* Develop work plans, design experiments, and provide progress reports, adhering to laboratory best practices including equipment maintenance and safe chemical handling.
* Uphold strict safety standards to ensure the well-being of colleagues and customers.
Knowledge, Experience, and Skills Required:
* Proven expertise as an R&D Chemist in biopolymers, with a strong preference for experience in chitin and chitosan.
* Postgraduate degree in polymeric materials or chemistry.
* Proficiency in chitin purification and chitosan production methods.
* Familiarity with analytical techniques such as NMR, TGA, XRD, FTIR, and their data interpretation.
* Ability to develop work plans, design experiments, and deliver clear, concise reports.
* Experience in creating and following SOPs, COSHH, and Risk Assessment documentation.
* A collaborative mindset suited to fast-paced, challenging environments, with a commitment to safety.
Special Features:
* This role involves working between two locations: the R&D laboratory in Clydebank (near Glasgow) and the manufacturing facility in Glenrothes, Fife, with a managed approach to balancing time between the two.
* Occasional visits to customers will be required for collaborative development work.