Senior Scientist — Pulp & Polymers

PadCare; Pune District; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Job summary

PadCare, founded in 2018, India’s first patented sanitary napkin recycling technology—PadCareX, is seeking a Senior Scientist: Pulp & Polymers to lead R&D initiatives in Pune. You will design experiments to improve material quality, optimize processes, reduce costs, and develop new recycling solutions with cross-functional teams.

The role requires 6–10 years of relevant research, strong material-science expertise, and hands-on experience with lab-scale and pilot-scale development.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Polymer Science, Pulp and Paper Technology, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related field.
• 6–10 years of relevant industrial or applied research experience in pulp, paper, plastics, polymers, recycling, or material recovery.
• Strong understanding of pulp fibres, polymer chemistry, plastic processing, material degradation, and recycled-material behaviour.
• Experience in experimental design, material characterization, data analysis, and technical problem-solving.
• Experience taking R&D projects from laboratory trials through pilot-scale validation.
• Working knowledge of relevant testing methods and laboratory equipment.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple research projects with clear timelines and measurable outcomes.
• Culture Fit: Must align with PadCare’s values – Integrity, Entrepreneurship, Collaboration, Customer-First, Innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D projects involving pulp, plastics, polymers, composites, and recycled materials.
• Design, plan, and conduct laboratory and pilot-scale experiments.
• Improve the quality, consistency, performance, and usability of recovered pulp and plastic materials.
• Identify opportunities for raw-material optimization, process improvement, yield enhancement, and cost reduction.
• Develop new processes and applications for material recycling, recovery, separation, purification, and reuse.
• Characterize materials using appropriate physical, chemical, thermal, mechanical, and morphological testing methods.
• Study the impact of process parameters on material properties and final product performance.
• Analyze experimental data, draw conclusions, and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Lead root-cause investigations related to material or process-quality issues.
• Support the scale-up of successful laboratory concepts to pilot and commercial operations.
• Collaborate with operations, engineering, quality, product development, procurement, and external research partners.
• Evaluate new technologies, additives, chemicals, equipment, and potential applications for recycled materials.
• Prepare technical reports, experimental protocols, standard operating procedures, research presentations, and project documentation.
• Establish material specifications, quality benchmarks, testing protocols, and acceptance criteria.
• Ensure laboratory activities comply with applicable health, safety, environmental, and quality requirements.
• Mentor junior scientists, research associates, and laboratory technicians.
• Contribute to intellectual-property development, including invention disclosures and patent-related documentation.

Skills

Pulp & Polymers

Experimental design

Data analysis

Technical writing

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Education

Master’s degree in Polymer Science

PhD in Materials Science / Chemical Engineering

Tools

GPC

DSC

SEM

Laboratory equipment handling

Job description

At PadCare, we’re on a mission to make hygiene sustainable. Founded in 2018, we have developed India’s first patented sanitary napkin recycling technology—PadCareX.

But we’re not just solving a waste problem, we’re building a circular economy that champions environmental resilience and social equity. Our service model closes the loop starting from collection, recycling, and transforming single-use sanitary napkins into sustainable materials, while also creating dignified jobs for marginalized waste workers, especially women, across the country.

With 100+ changemakers across 25+ cities, PadCare is driving real impact—for people and the planet. Recognized by Forbes, the World Economic Forum, and more, we believe business can be a force for good. If you do too, PadCare is where your purpose finds a home.

Oh, and you must have seen us on an episode of Shark Tank India, Season 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q0cmPtpJRo

To learn more about the work that PadCare is doing, check out the website: www.padcarelabs.com

Role overview & Key responsibilities:

We are looking for an experienced and innovation-driven Senior Scientist : Pulp & Polymers to lead research and development initiatives involving recovered pulp, plastics, polymers, and recycled materials.

The role will focus on planning and conducting experiments to improve material quality, optimize processes, reduce costs, and develop new recycling and material-recovery solutions. The successful candidate will combine strong scientific knowledge with practical experience in laboratory research, process development, scale-up, and cross-functional project execution.

• Lead R&D projects involving pulp, plastics, polymers, composites, and recycled materials.


• Design, plan, and conduct laboratory and pilot-scale experiments.


• Improve the quality, consistency, performance, and usability of recovered pulp and plastic materials.


• Identify opportunities for raw-material optimization, process improvement, yield enhancement, and cost reduction.


• Develop new processes and applications for material recycling, recovery, separation, purification, and reuse.


• Characterize materials using appropriate physical, chemical, thermal, mechanical, and morphological testing methods.


• Study the impact of process parameters on material properties and final product performance.


• Analyze experimental data, draw conclusions, and translate findings into practical recommendations.


• Lead root-cause investigations related to material or process-quality issues.


• Support the scale-up of successful laboratory concepts to pilot and commercial operations.


• Collaborate with operations, engineering, quality, product development, procurement, and external research partners.


• Evaluate new technologies, additives, chemicals, equipment, and potential applications for recycled materials.


• Prepare technical reports, experimental protocols, standard operating procedures, research presentations, and project documentation.


• Establish material specifications, quality benchmarks, testing protocols, and acceptance criteria.


• Ensure laboratory activities comply with applicable health, safety, environmental, and quality requirements.


• Mentor junior scientists, research associates, and laboratory technicians.


• Contribute to intellectual-property development, including invention disclosures and patent-related documentation.
  

What we’re looking for:

• Master’s degree or PhD in Polymer Science, Pulp and Paper Technology, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.


• Approximately 6–10 years of relevant industrial or applied research experience in pulp, paper, plastics, polymers, recycling, or material recovery.


• Strong understanding of pulp fibres, polymer chemistry, plastic processing, material degradation, and recycled-material behaviour.


• Demonstrated experience in experimental design, material characterization, data analysis, and technical problem-solving.


• Experience taking R&D projects from laboratory trials through pilot-scale validation.


• Working knowledge of relevant testing methods and laboratory equipment.


• Strong technical writing, documentation, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills.


• Ability to manage multiple research projects with clear timelines and measurable outcomes.


• Culture Fit: Must align with PadCare’s values – Integrity, Entrepreneurship, Collaboration, Customer-First, Innovation.

Work Mode: Full-time; based in Pune.

Why Join us:

• Compensation: Competitive salary in line with industry standards.


• Growth Path: Opportunity to scale into Head of Research and beyond as PadCare expands globally.


• Purpose With Impact: Join a mission-driven team transforming menstrual hygiene through sustainable solutions that uplift women’s health, the environment, and sanitation workers' dignity.


• Eco-Warrior in Action: Help recycle millions of sanitary pads and actively reduce landfill waste and carbon emissions—real impact, not just buzzwords.


• Innovation Meets Heart: Be part of a team that blends empathy with patented 5D recycling tech to build the future of circular economy.


• Grow With Us: We’re a fast-gowing, venture-backed startup offering real opportunities to scale your career as we scale our impact.


• A Culture That Cares: Work in a space where collaboration, inclusivity, and purpose aren’t just values—they’re how we roll every day.