Senior Polymer Scientist & Innovation Leader – Durban

Placements24; Durban; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health and wellness benefits

Retirement savings plan

Advanced laboratory equipment and res"

Professional development including/con

Job summary

Prestigious Research Institute in Durban is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist to lead synthesis and characterization of advanced polymer materials. You will design architectures, analyze properties, and translate results into practical applications in a state-of-the-art lab.

The role requires a PhD and 6+ years in polymer science, with strong experimental design and collaboration skills. Mentoring, IP contributions, and conference participation are encouraged.

Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Chemistry, or closely related field.
• Minimum of 6 years post-doctoral or industrial R&D in polymer science.
• Proven expertise in polymer synthesis, characterization and processing.
• Ability to design and conduct complex experimental investigations.
• Strong knowledge of polymer physics and engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead research projects on synthesis and characterization of advanced polymers.
• Develop and implement characterization techniques (GPC, NMR, DSC, TGA, SEM, TEM).
• Investigate structure-property relations to design polymers with desired performance.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to translate research to applications.
• Mentor and guide junior scientists and technicians in the lab.
• Prepare technical reports and publish research findings; present at meetings.
• Manage lab equipment and ensure safety compliance; contribute to IP development.

Skills

Polymer synthesis

Polymer processing

Structure-property analysis

Team collaboration

Mentoring junior researchers

Analytical problem solving

Scientific communication

Education

PhD in Materials Science or Polymer Chemistry

Tools

GPC

NMR

DSC

TGA

SEM

TEM

Data analysis software

Job description

Prestigious Research Institute in Durban is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist to lead synthesis and characterization of advanced polymer materials. You will design architectures, analyze properties, and translate results into practical applications in a state-of-the-art lab.

The role requires a PhD and 6+ years in polymer science, with strong experimental design and collaboration skills. Mentoring, IP contributions, and conference participation are encouraged.