Senior/Laboratory Research Scientist

The management team at Versarien plc has a clear, well defined goal – to develop the Company into a large technology-led employer with UK-based manufacturing and research facilities. The Company has an apprentice programme in place and is providing financial support to both graduate and postgraduate students.
Versarien plc and companies like it will enable the UK to revitalise its economy using home-grown engineering talent. Location: Full time based at 2-DTech Ltd., Versarien is a global engineering business specialising in research and development, design, and manufacture for graphene enhanced materials for our global clients. We are continuously evolving, developing new technologies and products using graphene.
Versarien utilise proprietary graphene materials technology to create innovative engineering solutions that are capable of having game-changing impact in a broad variety of sectors. With our headquarters in Cheltenham and our staff embedded within the University of Manchester at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), the University of Cambridge at the Cambridge Graphene Centre (CGC) and the University of Ulster, we serve global research and development and industrialization of our graphene materials. Our technologies are used in sectors including automotive, aviation, construction, medical and textiles.
Reporting to the Principal Scientist and Head of Research, you will work primarily on the development of graphene enhanced materials in line with our GSCALE programme of work aimed at accelerating the scale-up of 5 manufacturing approaches - taking applications in graphene based composites (fibre-reinforced polymers, thermoplastics, elastomers), construction materials and textiles through the stages of research and development through to product development and technology deployment.
Senior Scientist (salary range £42-50k, dependent on experience)
Location: Full time based at 2-DTech Ltd., Materials development - at least 5 years experience in composite materials and processing methods. The applicant will be expected to produce and test graphene-enhanced polymer composites (thermosets, thermoplastics and elastomers) and coatings and assist with the creation of research papers, IP, the development of robust QA/QC processes to verify the quality of GRM/polymer composites and products at various stages of the manufacturing process.
Manufacturing - at least 5 years hands on experience in the manufacture of composite components and assemblies, concerning all aspects from material receipt through to material cure, moulding coating and finishing operations. Experience with industrial application of composites would be an advantage.
Management - The applicant will be responsible for day-to-day R&D activities and for leading work package activities on materials development and composite manufacturing processes. The applicant will work with a team of senior scientists, project scientists and project technicians in a client-facing role. There will also be an expectation of some travel (UK and globally), as well as attendance to relevant conferences and trade shows. The applicant will have proven project management skills and ability to provide written proposals for new R&D projects.
A PhD or equivalent experience in Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science or closely related disciplines.
Preference will be given to candidates with proven hands-on experience in preparation, optimisation, and characterisation of composite materials or coatings. Project Scientist (salary range £35-40.Materials formulation and testing - at least 2 years hands-on experience in either the optimization and formulation of aqueous and solvent based inks and dispersions for a wide range of printing and coating techniques, or a composites processing background. The applicant will be expected to produce and test graphene-enhanced inks (graphene particle size, quality, conductivity, ink rheology, surface tension, etc.)., coatings and composites and assist with the creation of research papers, IP, the development of robust QA/QC processes to verify the quality of materials and products at various stages of the manufacturing process.
Development - at least 2 years hands-on experience in the development of industrial composites and coatings such as anti-fouling, anti-corrosion, anti-microbial, textiles, packaging, etc. Assessing scientific literature and reviewing state of the art technologies prior to commencing.
Management - The applicant will be responsible for day-to-day R&D activities and for leading work package activities on materials development and composite manufacturing processes. The applicant will work with a team of senior scientists, project scientists and project technicians in a laboratory environment. There will also be an expectation of some travel (UK and globally), as well as attendance to relevant conferences and trade shows. The applicant should actively contribute to team meetings with innovative ideas giving regular presentations and be able to support proposal writing for new R&D projects. Proven project management skills would be advantageous.
A PhD or equivalent experience in Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science or closely related disciplines.
Preference will be given to candidates with proven hands-on experience in preparation, optimisation, and characterisation of composite materials or coatings. Project Technician (salary range £25-33k, dependent on experience)
Materials formulation and testing - The applicant will be expected to carry out lab work on a daily basis involving optimising existing graphene and related material (GRM) exfoliation processes to extend the product portfolio, and the processing of these powders into polymer matrices (predominantly thermosets and elastomers) by traditional milling and shear mixing methods. The applicant will also be expected to help develop novel methods for GRM processing/masterbatching towards the creation of research papers and IP and the development of QA/QC processes to verify the quality of GRM/polymer compounds or products at various stages of the manufacturing process.
Development - The applicant will help develop industrial composites and coatings such as anti-fouling, anti-corrosion, anti-microbial, textiles, packaging, etc. Industrial experience with such coatings systems and/or formulations would be advantageous. Assessing scientific literature and reviewing state of the art technologies prior to commencing.
Management - The applicant will be responsible for day-to-day R&D activities and for leading work package activities on materials development and composite manufacturing processes. The applicant will work with a team of senior scientists and project scientists in a laboratory environment. There will also be an expectation of some travel (UK and globally). A BSc/MSc or equivalent experience in Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science or closely related disciplines.
Hands-on experience in either the optimization and formulation of aqueous and solvent based inks and dispersions for a wide range of printing and coating techniques, or a composites processing background would be advantageous.