Research Scientist - Polymer Chemistry

Placements24; Noord-Kaap; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Fully remote

Home office budget

Health/dental/vision insurance

Professional development funds

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an innovative Research Scientist specializing in Polymer Chemistry for a fully remote role. You will design, synthesize, and characterize advanced polymeric materials for electronics, coatings, and biomedical devices, collaborating with a global team from your home office.

The candidate will lead polymerization studies, interpret structure-property relationships, and contribute to publications and patents while working in a dynamic virtual research environment.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. required in polymer-related field.
• Postdoctoral or industrial research experience ≥4 years.
• Experience with polymerization techniques (free radical, condensation, controlled/living).
• Experience with polymer characterization methods and data interpretation.
• Strong communication for remote collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel polymers with tailored properties.
• Characterize polymer structure, properties, and performance using GPC, NMR, DSC, TGA, microscopy.
• Investigate polymerization mechanisms and reaction kinetics.
• Evaluate polymer performance in applications like coatings or drug delivery.
• Publish results and contribute to patents.
• Collaborate with remote team.

Skills

Polymer synthesis

Polymer chemistry

Polymer characterization

Remote collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry / related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an innovative Research Scientist specializing in Polymer Chemistry for a fully remote role. This position is dedicated to the design, synthesis, and characterization of advanced polymeric materials with potential applications in electronics, coatings, and biomedical devices. You will conduct independent research, collaborate with a global team, and contribute to the development of next-generation materials. This is an exceptional opportunity for a polymer chemist to advance their career and contribute to cutting-edge material science from the convenience of their home office.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel polymers with tailored properties and architectures.
• Characterize polymer structure, properties, and performance using techniques such as GPC, NMR, DSC, TGA, and microscopy.
• Investigate polymerization mechanisms and reaction kinetics to optimize synthetic processes.
• Evaluate the performance of new polymers in target applications, such as advanced coatings or drug delivery systems.
• Document research findings, prepare technical reports, and contribute to scientific publications and patent filings.
• Collaborate effectively with materials scientists, engineers, and other researchers in a remote setting.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of postdoctoral or industrial research experience in polymer synthesis and characterization.
• Proven expertise in various polymerization techniques (e.g., free radical, condensation, controlled/living polymerization).
• Proficiency in polymer characterization methods and interpretation of results.
• Strong understanding of structure-property relationships in polymers.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills for remote work.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and fully remote work arrangement.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous budget for home office setup and professional development.
• Opportunity to work on high-impact research projects with leading industry experts.
• A dynamic and intellectually stimulating virtual research environment.