Senior Research Chemist - Materials Science

Placements24; Klerksdorp; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health & retirement benefits

Growth & training

Lab access in Klerksdorp

Innovative research environment

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a visionary Senior Research Chemist to drive innovation in Materials Science at their research center in Klerksdorp. You will lead design, synthesis, and characterization of novel materials and mentor junior staff.

You will collaborate with engineers and physicists, advance processing routes, and contribute to IP development. The role offers opportunities to publish, present at conferences, and work in a resource-rich, innovation-focused environment in the North West province.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of industry or academic research experience in materials chemistry.
• Expertise in synthesis techniques, characterization methods (spectroscopy, microscopy, thermal analysis) and materials testing.
• Ability to independently lead research projects and mentor junior staff.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, synthesis, and characterization of novel materials using advanced chemical techniques.
• Conduct in-depth studies on material properties, performance, and structure-property relationships.
• Develop and optimize synthetic routes and processing methods for target materials.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to translate lab findings into scalable manufacturing processes.
• Author technical reports, patent applications, and contribute to peer-reviewed publications.

Skills

Project leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Mentoring

Education

PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering

Tools

Spectroscopy

Microscopy

Thermal analysis

Materials testing

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a visionary Senior Research Chemist to drive innovation in Materials Science at their research center in Klerksdorp . This position requires a deep understanding of chemical principles applied to the design, synthesis, and characterization of novel materials with advanced properties. You will lead research projects aimed at developing next-generation materials for various applications, collaborate with cross-functional teams including engineers and physicists, and contribute to intellectual property development. The role offers an exciting opportunity to work on challenging scientific problems, contribute to groundbreaking discoveries, and influence the future direction of materials technology within a supportive and resource-rich environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, synthesis, and characterization of novel materials using advanced chemical techniques.
• Conduct in-depth studies on material properties, performance, and structure-property relationships.
• Develop and optimize synthetic routes and processing methods for target materials.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to translate laboratory findings into scalable manufacturing processes.
• Author technical reports, patent applications, and contribute to peer-reviewed publications.

Requirements

• PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of industry or academic research experience in materials chemistry.
• Extensive knowledge of synthesis techniques, characterization methods (e.g., spectroscopy, microscopy, thermal analysis), and materials testing.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead research projects and mentor junior staff.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits, including medical and retirement plans.
• Significant opportunities for professional growth, training, and conference participation.
• Access to state-of-the-art laboratories and advanced analytical instrumentation in Klerksdorp .
• A stimulating research environment focused on innovation and scientific excellence.