Research Technician

Warwick; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Learning & development

Employee discounts

Parental leave

Onsite childcare

Flexible working

Job summary

University of Warwick is seeking a proactive experimentalist to join the Department of Chemistry for polymer synthesis and processing, contributing to a proof-of-concept development for novel materials. The role focuses on creating and studying a library of polymer materials within an academically oriented environment.

You will collaborate across departments, evaluate properties such as rheology and mechanical/thermal behavior, and ensure meticulous record-keeping and reproducible data in

Qualifications

• Practical experimentalist with strong foundation in polymer chemistry
• Hands-on experience in polymer synthesis and processing laboratory equipment
• Ability to quickly learn new techniques
• Experience evaluating polymer properties including rheology, mechanics and thermal characteristics

Responsibilities

• Engage in proof-of-concept development for novel materials
• Produce and study a library of polymer materials
• Collaborate across departments to drive technical milestones to completion
• Maintain meticulous experimental records and reproducible data under COSHH
• Arrange access to equipment and procurement of consumables/new equipment as needed

Skills

Polymer synthesis

Polymer processing

Rheology

Mechanical properties

Thermal analysis

Formulation design

Interfacial adhesion

Job description

Hours: Full-time, 36.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)

Closing Date: Thursday 8 October 2026, 11:59pm

Full time Salary Range: £31,236.00- £34,610.00per annum

About the Role

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to take part in a proof of concept development for novel materials. Your polymer synthesis and processing skills will be essential to produce and study a library of polymer materials. You will also broaden and further develop your skills in an academic setting, while gaining insight into a growing and strategically important department at the University of Warwick.

For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description (link here).

About You

Our required candidate is a practical, proactive experimentalist with a strong foundation in polymer chemistry, polymer characterisation, and polymer processing. You should have hands‑on experience in polymer synthesis and processing related laboratory equipment and be comfortable in quickly picking up new techniques.

You have practical familiarity with evaluating polymer properties, particularly rheological behaviour, mechanical properties, and thermal characteristics. Experience in formulation design (such as incorporating particulate fillers or additives) or assessing surface and interfacial adhesion (e.g., contact angle analysis) is highly valued.

You are highly organised, adhere strictly to laboratory health and safety protocols (COSHH), and take pride in maintaining meticulous experimental records and reproducible data. Crucially, you thrive in a collaborative, cross‑disciplinary environment, communicating effectively with academic and technical colleagues across departments to drive technical milestones to completion. You are confident making connections with relevant people in order to arrange access to equipment, or to arrange procurement of consumables/ new equipment with global providers.

About the Department

The Department of Chemistry at Warwick is a thriving and inclusive community of students, academics, researchers, and professional services staff.

Our fundamental research pushes boundaries across all major fields of chemistry, while our applied work - delivered through close partnership with the wider scientific community and industry - addresses major global challenges, breakthroughs in health, solar energy harvesting, and sustainable materials.

We are proudly outward-facing, and our community is recognised as one of the strongest in the UK. Our extensive national and international relationships create an outstanding environment for collaboration, innovation, and career development. From polymers and catalysts to computation, advanced instrumentation and cutting‑edge materials, our research sits at the forefront of the discipline.

We are highly interdisciplinary, having long‑standing partnerships with the School of Life Sciences, Warwick Medical School, Physics, Manufacturing, Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.

We are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive working and learning environment in which diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are recognised, respected, and valued. Our Athena Swan Silver Award reflects our ongoing efforts to embed equality, diversity, and inclusion into our culture, practices, teaching, and research, and our commitment to supporting the career progression of all staff.

Explore our webpages to learn more about the Department of Chemistry’s research and teaching, industry‑leading facilities, and the impact of our work.

Benefits

• an attractive pension scheme
• a generous holiday allowance plus Christmas closure
• excellent learning and development opportunities
• savings on a wide range of products and services
• a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy
• onsite childcare facilities
• access to flexible working

We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages here .

The University currently holds aRace Equality Charter Bronze Award,Athena Swan Sliver Awardand aDisability Smart Bronze Award.Further information on all of the University's Awards and Accreditations can be found here . The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance .

Right to Work in the UK

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.