Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher x2
Requirements
Applicants must hold a background in polymer chemistry with strong training in organic chemistry and must not have been awarded a doctoral degree. Candidates must meet the Marie Curie mobility rule and demonstrate English language proficiency if it is not their first language.
Job Description
Job Title: Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher x2
Reference: 539
Department: Chemistry
Contract Type: Fixed-term contract
Fixed Term End Date: 31 March 2030
Hours: Full-time (1.0 FTE)
Closing Date: Tuesday 5 January 2027, 11:59 PM (UK)
Full time Salary Range: £50,000 - £60,000 (specific salary as per Marie Curie funding rate). This includes a mobility allowance.
About the Role
Applications are invited for two 36-month positions as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Candidates (DC1 and DC2) in the areas of synthetic organic chemistry, polymer chemistry and sustainable materials. The successful applicants will join the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (DN) AGRIPOLYS, working under the supervision of Prof. Remzi Becer at the University of Warwick
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AGRIPOLYS is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement number 101311807. The network brings together fifteen doctoral projects on the molecular design of polymers for sustainable agriculture, with a focus on biodegradable seed coatings and agrochemical carriers that replace persistent plastic-based materials. The Doctoral Candidates will be trained in the design, synthesis and characterisation of these polymers, their formulation and application, and the evaluation of their biodegradation and environmental fate.
Further information is available at https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101311807/en
Eligibility: at the time of recruitment, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the United Kingdom for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the appointment date. At the time of recruitment, the applicant must not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree. The posts are open to applicants of any nationality, subject to the mobility rule above.
For candidates whose first language is not English, an IELTS (or equivalent) score of at least 6.5 is required. Applicants who do not hold a valid English certificate at the time of application must give a clear plan, with dates, for obtaining one.
For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description (link here).
About You
These Doctoral Candidates positions are offered in conjunction with PhD studentships at the University of Warwick, subject to the applicants satisfying the University’s admissions requirements. The successful applicants will be required to enrol for a PhD degree under the supervision of Prof. Remzi Becer.
DC1: Synthesis of functional polymers for reducing dust-off on seed coatings. The DC will synthesise poly(2-oxazoline)s of different architecture and composition and relate polymer structure to film formation on seeds and to the reduction of friction and dust. Secondments will take place at ETH Zurich (tribology of seed coating polymers) and Bayer Crop Science (performance testing of seed coating formulations, including dust-off and flowability).
DC2: Synthesis of biodegradable poly(2-oxazoline)/polyphosphoester copolymers for agricultural applications. The DC will develop copolymers that combine biodegradability with the release of fertilising degradation products, and will determine their biodegradation and fragmentation profiles to identify microplastic-free compositions. Secondments will take place at the University of Twente (design of phospholane-based monomers) and Covestro (scale-up of poly(2-oxazoline)/polyphosphoester synthesis).
We are looking for a polymer chemist with very good training in organic chemistry, who is interested in sustainable materials and who enjoys working across disciplines and sectors in a supportive, international team. You will be trained by an internationally recognised team of academic and industrial experts. Applicants with different backgrounds and career paths, including career breaks, are very welcome, and you do not need to meet every desirable criterion to apply.
Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, or accept CVs or applications, from recruitment agencies.
About the Department
The Department of Chemistry at Warwick is a thriving and inclusive community of students, academics, researchers, and professional services staff.
Our fundamental research pushes boundaries across all major fields of chemistry, while our applied work - delivered through close partnership with the wider scientific community and industry - addresses major global challenges, breakthroughs in health, solar energy harvesting, and sustainable materials.
We are proudly outward-facing, and our community is recognised as one of the strongest in the UK. Our extensive national and international relationships create an outstanding environment for collaboration, innovation, and career development. From polymers and catalysts to computation, advanced instrumentation and cutting-edge materials, our research sits at the forefront of the discipline.
We are highly interdisciplinary, having long-standing partnerships with the School of Life Sciences, Warwick Medical School, Physics, Manufacturing, Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.
We are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive working and learning environment in which diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are recognised, respected, and valued. Our Athena Swan Silver Award reflects our ongoing efforts to embed equality, diversity, and inclusion into our culture, practices, teaching, and research, and our commitment to supporting the career progression of all staff.
Explore our webpages to learn more about the Department of Chemistry’s research and teaching, industry-leading facilities, and the impact of our work.
How to Apply
To apply please complete your essential personal details and attach a CV and cover letter on the closing date stated.
We will review applications throughout the advertising period and may contact shortlisted candidates before the closing date. We therefore encourage interested applicants to submit their application as early as possible. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications
Please ensure your CV includes your most recent employment experience along with any additional relevant experience and education history.
Your cover letter should detail your motivation for applying for the role as well as detailing how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.
The interviews will be held: To Be Confirmed
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We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, a generous holiday allowance plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.
We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working, for more information click here.
We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer.
If you are considering relocating to the UK, read our Relocation Guide to find out more about what Warwick has to offer and what might be involved in the process.
Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.
We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages here.
The University currently holds a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award, Athena Swan Sliver Award and a Disability Smart Bronze Award. Further information on all of the University's Awards and Accreditations can be found here. The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance.
Right to Work in the UK
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