Applied Chemistry Consultant

Paconsulting; Melbourn; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

You will design experiments, perform analyses, interpret data and communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. A practical, problem-solving mindset and collaboration across disciplines are essential to success.

Qualifications

• Hands-on laboratory experimentation.
• Experimental design and practical problem solving.
• Chemical analysis and characterisation.
• Materials or formulation development.
• Data interpretation of experimental results.
• Ability to communicate scientific findings to technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Design, plan and carry out laboratory experiments to investigate chemical systems, materials, products or processes.
• Analyse, interpret and communicate experimental data.
• Apply chemical principles to solve complex, ambiguous technical problems.
• Support development, testing and assessment of new technologies, products, materials or processes.
• Contribute to technical reports, presentations and client deliverables.
• Engage with clients to understand technical challenges and present findings.

Skills

Laboratory skills

Analytical thinking

Scientific communication

Problem solving

Education

PhD

MSc

BSc

Job description

Apply practical chemistry, rigorous scientific thinking and creative problem solving to complex real-world challenges across a variety of industries.

We are looking for an Applied Chemistry Consultant to join our Applied Sciences team. You should have a strong technical foundation in chemistry, a passion for applying scientific understanding through practical experimentation, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

This role is ideal for someone who has recently completed a PhD, or who has 2-5 years of experience in industry, research or technology development, and is looking to broaden their experience across a diverse range of technically challenging projects rooted in chemistry. No two projects are the same, and success in this role comes from being able to rapidly understand unfamiliar technical challenges and apply chemistry in new contexts.

The Role

This is a hands-on technical consulting role focused on applying chemistry to solve varied client challenges.

• Experimental design and laboratory investigation
• Chemical analysis, testing and characterisation
• Materials, formulations, surfaces and interfaces
• Electrochemical, catalytic and separation technologies
• Process chemistry and chemical engineering-adjacent challenges
• Technology assessment, technical due diligence and innovation strategy
• Failure analysis, root-cause investigation and troubleshooting
• Sustainability, decarbonisation and circular economy technologies
• Development and evaluation of novel products, processes or materials
• Interpretation of experimental, manufacturing or operational data

Responsibilities

You will:

• Design, plan and carry out laboratory experiments to investigate chemical systems, materials, products or processes.
• Analyse, interpret and communicate experimental and technical data.
• Apply chemical principles to solve complex, ambiguous or unfamiliar technical problems.
• Support the development, testing and assessment of new technologies, products, materials or processes.
• Contribute to technical due diligence, technology scouting and evidence-based assessments.
• Identify sources of uncertainty, experimental limitations and technical risk.
• Translate scientific findings into clear, practical recommendations for colleagues and clients.
• Contribute to technical reports, presentations, proposals and client deliverables.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues from other science and engineering disciplines, as well as sector specialist backgrounds.
• Support internal research, innovation and capability development activities.
• Build expertise across multiple chemistry-related domains and application areas.
• Engage directly with clients to understand technical challenges, shape project approaches and present findings.

You are likely to have a degree, MSc or PhD in:

• Chemistry
• Applied Chemistry
• Materials Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• A closely related scientific or engineering discipline

You should have experience in several of the following areas:

• Hands-on laboratory experimentation
• Experimental design and practical problem solving
• Chemical analysis and characterisation
• Materials or formulation development
• Surface, interface or materials chemistry
• Process development, scale-up or manufacturing-related chemistry
• Analytical techniques
• Development of laboratory equipment, test rigs, analytical instruments or emerging technologies
• Data analysis and interpretation of experimental results
• Troubleshooting complex technical problems
• Communicating scientific findings to technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience with chemistry or modelling specific tools would be advantageous but is not essential.

The Ideal Candidate

You will be:

• Curious about how chemistry affects materials, devices and processes in the real world.
• Practical and hands-on in your approach to scientific problem solving.
• Comfortable working in laboratories and interpreting experimental evidence.
• Strong analytically, with the ability to break down complex technical questions.
• Interested in applying chemistry across d