Physical Scientist Placement Student

About Lubrizol  

The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a specialty chemical company whose science delivers sustainable solutions to advance mobility, improve wellbeing and enhance modern life. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol owns and operates more than 100 manufacturing facilities, sales, and technical offices around the world and has about 8,000 employees. For more information, visit  

We value diversity in professional backgrounds and life experiences. By enabling a consistent, unbiased, and transparent recruitment process, Lubrizol seeks to create a positive experience for candidates so we can get to know them at their best. We recognise unique work and life situations and offer flexibility, ensuring our employees feel engaged and fulfilled in every aspect of life. 

Physical Scientist Placement Student

Analytical and Physical Science Chemist Student Placement Hazelwood, near Derby

At Lubrizol, we have a strong student community in the UK in a range of disciplines, from science, research and engineering to our business support functions. As a student within the Analytical and Physical Science department, you will use your creativity and problem-solving skills to develop and test novel chemistries and innovative technologies. You will be part of a diverse group of skilled professionals, working closely as a team and taking responsibility for your own real-world laboratory research. This role is based at the European marketing and technical centre located in a rural setting at Hazelwood, eight miles from Derby City Centre, UK.

What you will be doing: 

• You will work in physical chemistry, primarily in the fundamental understanding of additive performance. With a focus on delivering sustainable solutions to advance mobility, improve wellbeing and enhance modern life, your projects will support understanding newly developed chemistries and how they perform.
• Your work may be in the context of any of our businesses, for example in composite materials, paints and coatings or lubricants and fuels. The emphasis will be on how our chemistry performs, and why this is the case.
• Disciplines such as colloid, surface and rheological sciences will be applied, with operation of high-resolution instruments (electron microscopy, scattering techniques, rheometers, thermal analysis, surface adsorption techniques, kinetics) and opportunities to design experiments and define project directions to answer fundamental questions.
• In addition to lab work, you will be given the opportunity to attend meetings and give presentations to communicate data and results into business areas, both in Lubrizol Hazelwood (UK) and other global sites (through online meetings). You will also report out your work through formal reports.

What you will need: 

• Be studying towards a BSc or MChem in Chemistry including a year in industry, expecting a 2:1 or above
• Achieved grade B or above in A Level Chemistry
• Be able to operate safely and confidently in a lab environment
• Candidates should have an interest in applied, physical, analytical chemistry or formulation science
• Creative approach to problem-solving and a keen interest in the development of new technologies

Please note that this role does not include chemical synthesis. Lab work is an important part of the role, but the role is focused on analytical techniques/understanding.

Why Lubrizol?

We know that Lubrizol is not a common household name, so it may surprise you to know that our products and technologies are in the things that you use every day - from surfaces and fluids in the vehicles you drive, to shampoo, medicines, to the clothes that you wear. The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, combines our unique chemistry expertise, formulation and applications capabilities, and market insights to positively impact the lives of our customers' end users around the globe.

What we can offer you

• Competitive salary
• Discretionary bonus
• 33 days holiday (including 8 bank holidays)
• Competitive Pension Scheme
• Flexible Working Hours
• Potential to support Final Year Project
• Subsidised Sports and Social Club (Some Locations)
• Subsidised on site restaurant facility (Some Locations)
• Free Car Parking

Ready for your next career step? Apply today and let's shape the future together

It's an exciting time to be part of Lubrizol. Lubrizol is not staying put. We are continually learning and evolving. Our passion delivers our success — not only for Lubrizol but for those who count on us every day: our employees, customers and communities.

We work with a relentless commitment to operate safely and responsibly, keeping safety, sustainability, ethics, and compliance at the forefront of everything we do. The well-being of our employees, customers and communities is paramount to our culture and in the way we approach our work.

As a diverse, global team, we work together to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges. We impact everyday lives through science only Lubrizol can deliver, and we never stop pushing to do it better.

One of the founding principles of The Lubrizol Corporation more than 90 years ago was treating every employee with dignity and respect. That same commitment is only stronger today. 

More than that, we are committed to providing an environment where every employee can be the best they can be, no matter their ethnic origin, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other characteristic.