Postdoctoral Research Associate in Sustainable Polymer Chemistry

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Sustainable Polymer Chemistry to work with Professor Charlotte Williams for a period of up to 2 years. The post is supported by an EPSRC Prosperity Partnership between Universities of Oxford (Williams) and Unilever focussed on producing sustainable materials for consumer products and liquid formulations.  Our research targets new polymerization catalysts and processes to deliver sustainable polymers and block polymers for use in liquid formulations, including in water. New degradable polymer amphiphiles, surfactants and hydrophiles will be constructed using renewable monomers, including carbon dioxide, and should incorporate functional substituents as well as long-term polymer backbone degradability.  Target polymers include materials comprising ester, carbonate and ether blocks, amongst other chemistries. The use of precision polymer synthesis methods allows for investigation of influences including polymer molar mass, architecture, regio/stereochemistry and block composition over properties.

We seek a candidate who is interested in joining our diverse, multi-disciplinary research team and help us to try to solve these important environmental challenges.

Applicants must hold a PhD in Polymerization catalysis or Polymer Chemistry or a related subject area, (or be close to completion) prior to taking up your appointment.  The research requires expertise in polymer synthesis, preferably relevant to the preparation of oxygenated polymers (polyesters/carbonates/ethers). Expertise in polymer characterization, including in the liquid phase relevant to formulations is also required.  You will be expected to manage your own academic research and administrative activities.  This involves small-scale project management, to co-ordinate multiple aspects of work to meet deadlines.

As part of the research, you will have the opportunity to collaborate broadly within the Prosperity Partnership team which includes industrial scientists, other postdoctoral researchers and postgraduate students. You will lead our polymer team in the collaboration, providing opportunities to discuss ideas, present our work and design new experiments across the collaboration partnership. We will support your career development and provide opportunities for continual professional development in the role.

The post will be based in the Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your application.  Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post using examples of your skills and experience.  Certificates, references and research papers should not be provided at this stage.

To apply for this role and for further details, including a job description and selection criteria, please click on the link below.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday, 15 April 2024. Interviews will be held as soon as possible thereafter.

The University of Oxford and The Department of Chemistry are Silver Athena SWAN holders.  Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and ethnic minority candidates, who are under-represented in Chemistry research posts in Oxford.