Research Fellow - Polymer Engineering

Edinburgh Napier University; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid annual leave (46 days)

Pension contribution (17.6–26%)

Sponsorship of international workers (

Staff benefits

Job summary

Edinburgh Napier University, ranked top UK modern university for engineering and computer science, invites applications for a Research Fellow in biodegradable polymers for controlled release in agriculture. The role focuses on electrospinning, polymer processing, and advanced characterisation.

You will work with our Innovate UK project and our industrial collaborator Impact Solutions, contributing to publications and reports while developing scalable electrospinning protocols.

Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Expertise in polymers, especially biodegradable polymers and their processing.
• Hands-on electrospinning experience: method development, optimization, scale-up.
• Experience with analytical techniques DSC, FTIR, Tensile Testing, SEM, and Rheometry.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety COSHH procedures.

Responsibilities

• Advance biodegradable polymer research for controlled release in agriculture.
• Develop and optimize electrospinning protocols and scale-up.
• Characterize polymers and electrospun fibres using DSC, FTIR, SEM, Rheometry.
• Analyse data, maintain documentation, and contribute to publications.
• Collaborate with Impact Solutions on project goals.

Skills

Biodegradable polymers

Electrospinning

Polymer processing

Analytical techniques

COSHH & safety procedures

Education

PhD in Materials Science/Polymer Science/Chemical Engineering

Tools

DSC

FTIR

Tensile Testing

SEM

Rheometry

Job description

Ranked the #1 UK Modern University for Engineering and Computer Science (GUG 2025 & 2026), Edinburgh Napier University leads innovation in a rapidly changing world through future-ready education across disciplines like AI, renewable energy, computer/data science, engineering, building and surveying.

Currently, our School of Computing, Engineering & Built Environment are undertaking an Innovate UK funded research project exploring a novel controlled-release platform for agrochemicals using electrospun fibres.

As such, we are recruiting a Research Fellow to assist with advancing biodegradable polymer research and nanomaterial applications, contributing to cutting-edge innovations in sustainable agriculture.

The Role:

As Research Fellow on the “SproutSmarter” project, you will have the opportunity to use your strong expertise in polymers (particularly biodegradable polymers) and their processing, to conduct research on biodegradable polymer formulations for controlled release applications, contributing to the advancement of electrospinning techniques in agriculture.

Your proven hands‑on experience with electrospinning, including method development, optimization, and scale‑up, will put you in an excellent position to develop and optimize protocols for electrospinning processes (including coaxial electrospinning) and electrospraying, ensuring stable and tuneable nutrient release profiles.

As someone with strong working knowledge of analytical and characterization techniques such as DSC, FTIR, Tensile Testing, SEM, and Rheometry, you will also be well placed to use these techniques to characterise polymers, electrospun fibres, and final product performance, in turn analysing and interpreting experimental data, maintaining accurate documentation and contributing to publications, reports, and presentations.

This role will also offer you valuable experience working with our industrial collaborator Impact Solutions, who have a long consistent thread of innovation and new technology development within the areas of waste valorisation, recycling and sustainability. So, if you have the right skills and would like to contribute to this meaningful project, then we would love to hear from you.

What we will need from you:

• A PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrable expertise in polymers, particularly biodegradable polymers, and their processing.
• Proven hands‑on experience with electrospinning, including method development, optimization, and scale‑up
• Strong working knowledge of analytical and characterization techniques such as DSC, FTIR, Tensile Testing, SEM, and Rheometry.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety Procedures and COSHH procedures pertaining to post

Benefits we offer:

Paid annual leave entitlement of 46 days, pension contribution of 17.6 – 26% (depending on circumstances) and a number of other staff benefits.

Additional information:

Salary: £38,448 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week

Contract: Fixed-Term – 12 months or 31 January 2028 (whichever is sooner).

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on several factors specific to the successful applicant. Check salary criteria for the visa on https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.