Research Associate in CO₂ Mineralisation and Process Scale-Up (Ureaka)

University of Strathclyde; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Strathclyde in Glasgow invites applications for a Research Associate in CO₂ mineralisation and process scale-up (Ureaka). You will work closely with the founder and academic team to advance from lab validation to an integrated pilot.

The role requires a chemical/process engineer with hands-on lab or pilot experience, strong fundamentals, and safety awareness. Depending on spinout timing, there may be continued opportunities; start as soon as possible.

Qualifications

• PhD or near completion in a relevant field; postdoctoral level experience is desirable.
• Strong hands-on laboratory or pilot-scale experience in chemical/process engineering.
• Sound safety judgement and ownership of technical outcomes in uncertain R&D.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of experimental strategy and contribute to process design and scale-up decisions.
• Co-lead de-risking activities and align technical roadmap with spinout objectives.
• Develop and optimise leaching, gas handling, mineralisation, and solid-liquid separations; interpret data and prepare equipment specifications.
• Collaborate with the founder, researchers, PhD students, industrial partners, suppliers and advisers.

Skills

CO2 mineralisation

Process scale-up

Lab validation

Hands-on lab work

Safety judgment

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

Laboratory equipment handling

Job description

Research Associate in CO₂ Mineralisation and Process Scale-Up (Ureaka) (854608)

FTE: 1.0

Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months)

Closing Date: 26/10/2026

Cement is among the hardest industrial systems to decarbonise,while large volumes of construction and mineral waste remainunderused. Ureaka is developing a route to convert thesematerials into low-carbon supplementary cementitious materialswhile capturing and permanently mineralising CO. We arerecruiting a Research Associate to progress the process fromlaboratory validation towards an integrated pilot and spinoutreadiness.

Based in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering,Ureaka is an award-winning University of Strathclyde pre-spinoutwith laboratory validation, industrial engagement, funding and adefined scale-up programme. Its work bridges chemical andprocess engineering, CO mineralisation, mineral processing andlow-carbon construction materials.

This is a high-ownership postdoctoral opportunity. Workingclosely with Ureaka's founder and academic team, you will colead development and de-risking, shaping experimental strategy,process design, equipment, scale-up decisions and the widertechnical roadmap.

This role will suit someone who is comfortable working withimperfect information, moving between experimental design andhands-on problem-solving, and personally building, modifyingand troubleshooting equipment. You will need to be resourceful,pragmatic and willing to take responsibility for technicaloutcomes, rather than simply deliver a predefined research workpackage.

You will develop leaching, carbonation/mineralisation, gashandling, solid-liquid separation and reagent recovery; establishmass and energy balances; interpret uncertain data; contribute toprocess-flow diagrams, P&IDs and equipment specifications; and procure, commission and troubleshoot equipment. The objectiveis a safe, evidence-based integrated pilot.

You will collaborate with the founder, researchers, PhD students,industrial partners, suppliers and specialist advisers; coordinatematerial characterisation and cementitious testing; providetechnical direction; and communicate with technical andcommercial audiences.

You will also contribute to technical strategy, milestones, IP,commercial validation, funding and company formation. Theappointment is full-time for 12 months and on-site at theUniversity of Strathclyde in Glasgow, with an intended start assoon as possible following completion of recruitment and preemployment checks.

We seek a chemical or process engineer, or closely relatedcandidate, with strong fundamentals and hands-on laboratory orpilot experience, including multiphase systems. You shoulddemonstrate sound safety judgement and ownership in uncertainR&D. CO/CCUS, gas handling, separation or recovery, industrialR&D or startup, and cement, minerals or waste experience aredesirable, not essential.

You will join Ureaka's founding technical team. Subject to spinouttiming, funding, performance and an appropriate recruitmentprocess, you may have the opportunity to continue in a seniortechnical role within the company; future employment is notguaranteed.

Whilst a Post-Doctoral Research Associate is ideally sought forthis position, applications from candidates who are close to PhDcompletion or whose award is pending are welcome. In suchcircumstances, the appointment will be made at ResearchAssistant level (grade 6) and duties will be adjusted to reflect thegrade of the post. This will continue until the PhD award isconfirmed, at which point the duties and grade will be revisedaccordingly.

Applicants may use tools such as AI to support their application;however, all submissions must accurately reflect their ownexperience and understanding. The University reserves the rightto verify the authenticity of application materials and may rejectapplications where concerns arise.

Initial interviews have been scheduled for Thursday 5th November 2026.

For informal enquiries, please contact Philip Salter,Research Associate [e-mail].

Research Associate in CO₂ Mineralisation and Process Scale-Up (Ureaka) (854608)

Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering