Chemical Design & Synthesis Placement Student

Lubrizol Corporation; Shottlegate; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

33 days' holiday

final year project support

Sports and Social Club

on-site restaurant facility

Free car parking

Job summary

Lubrizol is offering a Chemical Design & Synthesis Student Placement at its Hazelwood, near Derby facility. You will perform organic synthesis from small to mid-scale, contribute to the full product development cycle, and interact with global teams across commercial, analytical and testing functions.

You will also interpret results and document findings, while leveraging data science tools to accelerate progress.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a chemistry-related degree with a year in industry and a 2:1 or above.
• Interest in organic or polymer chemistry.
• Ability to interpret analytical results and prepare formal write-ups.
• Safe and confident working in a laboratory environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct organic synthesis from <1 L to 20 L scale.
• Involved in the full product development and process optimisation cycle.
• Interact with commercial, analytical, and performance testing teams globally.
• Interpret analytical results and write formal experimental reports.
• Utilise data science tools or collaborate with data science teams to accelerate progress.
• Work with the team to develop and commercialise next generation components.

Skills

Interest in organic chemistry

Interest in polymer chemistry

Interpret analytical results

Lab safety

Education

Chemistry-related degree with year in industry, 2:1 or above

Tools

Data science tools

Job description

Chemical Design & Synthesis Placement Student

Date: Sep 25, 2026

Chemical Design & Synthesis Student Placement

How You'll Make an Impact

As a Chemical Design & Synthesis Student Placement Student, you will use your creativity and problem-solving skills to discover new and exciting chemistry through organic synthesis and process development. You will work alongside experienced Research and Technical Scientists, taking responsibility for your own real-world laboratory research within Lubrizol's European marketing and technical centre, located in a rural setting at Hazelwood, near Derby. This content has been reformatted in line with the Lubrizol job posting template.

In this role, you will:

• Conduct organic synthesis from less than 1L scale through to 20L scale.
• Be involved in the entire product development and process optimisation cycle.
• Interact regularly with commercial, analytical, and performance testing departments across the globe.
• Interpret analytical results and create formal experimental write-ups.
• Utilise data science tools or collaborate with data science teams where appropriate to complement laboratory research and accelerate progress.
• Work with the team to develop and commercialise the next generation of components.

Required Qualifications that Enable Your Success

• Be studying towards a chemistry-related degree that includes a year in industry, achieving a 2:1 degree classification or above.
• Demonstrate an interest in organic or polymer chemistry.
• Be able to interpret analytical results and create formal experimental write-ups.
• Operate safely and confidently in a laboratory environment.

Preferred Qualifications that Drive You Forward

• Passion for organic synthesis and a desire to contribute to the development of new speciality chemicals.
• Interest in supporting discovery and new molecule design through optimisation and process development.
• Enthusiasm for leveraging data science tools to enhance research and accelerate progress.
• Interest in sustainable technologies and diverse areas of chemistry, including functionalised oligomers and polymers, surfactants, fatty acid chemistry, esters, amides, phenols, alkoxylates, and oil-soluble calcium and zinc compounds.

This laboratory-based role would appeal to someone who has a passion for organic synthesis and wishes to play a significant part in helping a global team develop new speciality chemicals to support our business.

With a focus on delivering sustainable solutions to advance mobility, improve wellbeing, and enhance modern life, your projects could support discovery and new molecule design through to optimisation and process development. Rapid development and commercialisation of new components means you will be heavily involved in the whole product development and process optimisation cycle. You may leverage data science tools to aid your research and accelerate progress.

The chemistry undertaken in this area of research is highly diverse, with major focus areas including functionalised oligomers and polymers, surfactants, fatty acid chemistry, esters, amides, phenols, alkoxylates, oil-soluble calcium and zinc compounds, and the development of sustainable technology.

Benefits that Empower You

• Discretionary bonus.
• 33 days' holiday (including 8 bank holidays).
• Potential support for final year projects.
• Subsidised Sports and Social Club (at some locations).
• Subsidised on-site restaurant facility (at some locations).
• Free car parking.

Shape the Future with Us

At Lubrizol, we have a strong student community in the UK spanning Science & Research, Engineering, and Business Support functions. As part of our team, you will have the opportunity to contribute to innovative chemistry solutions that advance mobility, improve wellbeing, and enhance modern life.

Together, we are Lubrizol: where science excels, and people make a difference. It is an exciting time to be part of Lubrizol. We are continually learning and evolving, and our passion drives success not only for Lubrizol, but also for our employees, customers, and communities.

We are talented people working together to solve problems and improve lives through science. We are making a difference and will never stop pushing to do it better.

Lubrizol: Imagined for Life. Enabled by Science. Delivered by You.

We know that Lubrizol is not a common household name, yet our products and technologies are found in items used every day, from surfaces and fluids in vehicles, to shampoos, medicines, and clothing.

The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, combines unique chemistry expertise, formulation and application capabilities, and market insights to positively impact the lives of customers and end users around the globe.

For nearly 100 years, Lubrizol has been delivering innovative solutions that help improve everyday life, advance mobility, and support a more sustainable future. Whether in the laboratory, manufacturing environment, or office, you'll be part of a global team empowered to make a meaningful impact.

We win because of you. Let's build the future together.

Lubrizol is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from a diverse range of applicants. All applicants will be considered entirely on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities.

To find out more about Lubrizol and the department, see the following links.

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