Job Description
Process and Safety Chemist
Role
LanthaGen Bio is a biotech startup building biotechnologies for selective metal binding and recovery from industrial waste streams, including electronic waste and metallurgical residues.
We are looking for a Process and Safety Chemist in a highly hands-on role combining laboratory operations, chemical safety leadership, and applied process R&D for mild metal leaching and biologically compatible recovery workflows.
This role is split approximately:
60% chemical operations, safety, and lab setup
40% applied R&D and protocol development
You will own chemical laboratory infrastructure, risk systems and developing an accessible lab, safe handling of acids, metals, flammables, and leachate streams. You will also design practical, scalable, and biologically compatible metal extraction processes in close collaboration with biochemist team.
Salary
£38,000 per annum (Year 1), within a salary band of £38k-42k, with progression subject to annual SPRIN-D project continuation and performance review.
Location
Onsite, Citi Labs 4, Manchester. Role will be largely onsite.
Working Hours
Full time; 32 hours
This role is lower hours over the working week, (Monday-Friday). It is not a compressed-hours role and is designed to support accessible working patterns, increase productivity, and promote work life balance.
What You Will Do
Chemical Operations & Safety Leadership (≈60%)
• Set up and manage chemical laboratory infrastructure from day one
• Own COSHH/COOSH forms, risk assessments, chemical inventories, and compliance systems
• Manage consumables and safe storage for:
– Acids and bases
– Metal salts and solutions
– Flammables and solvents
– Industrial leachates and waste streams
• Oversee fume hood operations and safe handling procedures
• Design SOPs for hazardous and semi-hazardous chemical workflows
• Lead lab safety culture in a fast-moving startup environment
• Ensuring accessibility is central to lab design to foster an inclusive and diverse lab team
Process R&D & Applied Chemistry (≈40%)
• Design mild, conditioned leaching protocols for metal recovery from:
– Electronic waste
– Industrial residues
– Complex mixed solid matrices
• Develop biologically compatible leachates and liquors suitable for downstream bioprocessing
• Safely handle and characterise metal-containing liquors
• Work closely with biochemists to:
– Prepare metal broths and assay solutions
– Tune pH, ionic strength, and chemical conditions for protein compatibility
– Support biochemical binding and recovery workflows
• Translate lab-scale chemical processes toward scalable, low-toxicity systems
Required Technical Skills (Must Have)
• Strong wet-lab chemistry background with hands-on hazardous materials handling
• Experience managing chemical safety systems (COSHH/COOSH, risk assessments, SOPs)
• Practical experience with:
– Acids and corrosives
– Metal salts and metal solutions
– Solvents and flammables
• Experience setting up or running laboratory operations
• Strong experimental discipline and documentation
Nice to Have (Desirable – can be developed on the job)
• Experience with hydrometallurgy or metal leaching processes
• Experience working with industrial waste or complex matrices
• Process optimisation or scale-up exposure
• Experience working alongside biological or biochemical labs
• Early-stage startup or fast-moving R&D environments
What Success Looks Like (First 3–6 Months)
• Fully operational chemical lab with robust safety systems in place
• Clear SOPs for hazardous materials, leachates, and metal workflows
• Reproducible mild leaching protocols for key industrial sample types
• Biologically compatible metal liquors supporting downstream assays
• Smooth integration between chemistry operations and bioprocess R&D
Interview Process
Stage 1: Teams call to assess CV and skill fit for the role
Stage 2: Practical/process discussion and scenario-based safety & R&D planning exercise, present to leadership team on site.
Annual Leave
You are entitled to five weeks paid leave per year + paid leave for UK bank holidays on your normal working days/paid leave during the Company’s Christmas closure. .
Benefits
• 3 months full pay maternity/paternity leave/shared parental leave.
• Fully paid volunteer day with local charity
• Paid leave on your birthday
• Free gym at Manchester Science Park + secure bike storage at Citi labs 4
• £500 learning and development budget: can be used independent online courses, conference attendance etc.
Experience needed
• MChem/MSci in Chemistry with 3–5 years hands-on laboratory experience
OR
• PhD in Chemistry or related field with 1–3 years industry experience
Experience must include practical wet-lab chemical work and safety ownership.
Additional
This role is funded as part of the SPRIN-D Tech Metal Challenge for 12 months initially, with continuation based on satisfactory performance and progression to year 2 of the challenge. Read more on the recent press release: https://www.sprind.org/en/actions/challenges/tech-metal#anchor-teams
The Royal Society of Chemistry Review on building accessible labs for disabled scientists:
https://www.rsc.org/policy-and-campaigning/science-culture/disability-inclusive-laboratories-in-the-chemical-sciences
Equalities and Values Statement
Lanthagen Bio is committed to an inclusive, respectful, and safe workplace. We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or exclusion on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief, age, or any other characteristic protected under UK law.
We respect that individuals may hold a wide range of personal, cultural, religious, or philosophical beliefs. However, all employees are expected to act professionally and respectfully at work. Behaviour that creates a hostile, intimidating, or exclusionary environment is not acceptable, regardless of personal belief or intent.
These expectations apply to all work-related interactions, including communications, meetings, and events. Lanthagen Bio complies fully with the Equality Act 2010 and relevant UK employment law.