Chemist – Catalytic Hydrogenation

HydRegen; Yarnton; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced maternity leave

Auto‑enrolment pension

25 days' annual leave plus bank hols

Job summary

HydRegen Limited, based near Oxford, is expanding its Chemistry R&D team to develop and optimise hydrogenation technology for industrial applications. The role offers the chance to translate laboratory catalysis into commercially viable processes.

You will collaborate with chemistry, biology and process engineering specialists, tackling real customer challenges and contributing to HydRegen's technology platform throughout development and scale-up.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Catalysis, Chemical Engineering or related discipline.
• Practical experience of catalytic hydrogenation or related reaction development.
• Experience with pressurised laboratory reactors is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Design and run catalytic hydrogenation experiments using pressurised reactors and autoclaves.
• Optimise reaction conditions, catalysts and reaction pathways.
• Analyse results and support process development and scale-up.
• Contribute to customer-funded R&D projects and HydRegen's tech platform.

Skills

Catalysis

Hydrogenation

Reaction development

Education

PhD in Chemistry

PhD in Catalysis

Job description

Completed a PhD involving catalytic hydrogenation? Interested in seeing your research move beyond the laboratory and into real industrial applications?

HydRegen is a growing Oxford-based biotechnology company developing innovative biocatalytic technologies to make chemical manufacturing more sustainable.

Following recent investment and growing interest from industry partners, HydRegen is expanding its Chemistry R&D team and looking for a Chemist to help develop and optimise its hydrogenation technology.

This is an opportunity to take your experience in catalysis and reaction development into an industrial R&D environment, working on real customer challenges and helping turn promising chemistry into commercially viable processes.

What makes this opportunity interesting?

You’ll work alongside scientists specialising in chemistry, biology and process engineering, with responsibilities including:

• Designing and running catalytic hydrogenation experiments using pressurised reactors and autoclaves.
• Optimising reaction conditions, catalysts and reaction pathways.
• Analysing experimental results and supporting process development and scale-up.
• Contributing to customer‑funded R&D projects and HydRegen's technology platform.

What experience will you need?

We’re particularly interested in candidates with a PhD in Chemistry, Catalysis, Chemical Engineering or a related discipline, involving practical experience of catalytic hydrogenation or closely related reaction development.

Experience with pressurised laboratory reactors would be particularly relevant.

Previous industrial experience isn’t essential.

• Enhanced maternity leave
• Auto‑enrolment pension
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays

Interested in finding out more?

HydRegen welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people and will make reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. Candidates who meet the essential industrial experience requirement are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet every desirable criterion.

Cranleigh STEM & Sustainability is supporting HydRegen with this appointment.