Junior Researcher (Chemistry Focus)
hace 1 día
Eastington
• Location: Wild Hydrogen offices – Hardwicke / Eastington, • Salary: From £28,000 to £32,000 depending on experience, • Contract Type: Full-time, • Reports to: Lead Chemist About Wild Hydrogen At Wild Hydrogen, we are driving the transition to carbon-negative energy with our patented Rising Pressure Reformer (RiPR) technology. Our breakthrough process converts wet biogenic feedstocks – including agricultural and food waste, and even plastics – into high-yield hydrogen and biomethane with minimal pre-processing. Both outputs capture carbon dioxide and generate biochar, creating a truly carbon-negative fuel solution. Designed to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors, our hydrogen and biomethane directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The flexible RiPR process adapts to evolving policy landscapes, including hydrogen blending mandates, ensuring resilience and scalability. Backed by significant investment and strategic partnerships, we are entering a critical scale-up phase. Wild Hydrogen has recently been awarded two successful grants, driving the next stage of our technology development journey. Join our small, passionate, high-impact team and help shape a cleaner, greener energy future. The Role We are seeking a recent graduate or early career researcher to join our research and development team, supporting with analysis of gases, liquids, and solid carbon products that originate from our first of a kind prototypes. The role will progressively develop your skills as the company requires, from initially taking on technician responsibilities, to more independent research. You will work closely with the Lead Chemist to support the operation of Wild Hydrogen’s organic chemistry laboratory through the preparation of samples, operation of analytical equipment, and the operation of test rigs. The opportunity will be given to work across a range of research areas including the core thermochemical processes, gas purification and hydrogen utilisation, among others. Communication skills, both verbal and written, will be key as you will be expected to liaise with internal and external collaborators. There will be a day-to-day responsibility to work with the technician team to ensure samples/data are taken according to the standard operating procedures or test plan requirements. You will also work alongside chemical engineering researchers to provide and interpret results. This is a hands-on role with a broad scope for personal growth, working to support a mixture of engineering, operations and commercial teams as Wild Hydrogen scales-up. Key Responsibilities Typical duties associated with the role are as follows: • Laboratory operation: Support lab management with updating COSHH, stock checking, equipment scheduling, calibration and maintenance., • Sample analysis: Liaise with research team to understand requirements and analyse sample material accordingly using organic chemistry methods. Support on the interpretation of data from analytical equipment using supplier software, spreadsheet editors (MS Excel), and modelling packages such as GProms., • Experimentation: Support the lead researchers and technician team to deliver experimental work using Wild Hydrogen’s thermochemical or gas purification processes., • Process improvement: Keep up to date with the latest research and offering adaptation to our methods to improve results, safety and environmental impacts., • Report writing: Contribute to writing and reporting on UKRI funded projects, academic collaborations, and media releases portraying our research professionally, with integrity, accuracy, and clarity. About You Essential: • 0-2 years’ experience, • Bachelors or Masters level degree in chemistry, environmental science/geochemistry, chemical engineering or similar, • Hands on attitude with great attention to detail, • Familiar with following and interpreting laboratory methods independently, • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to adapt tone and style to suit different audiences, • Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and comfortable learning new software tools, • Experience of organic chemistry methods, • Experience working within technical teams, • Knowledge of GC-MS, CHNS, Raman and TGA analysis or data interpretation., • Experience of COSHH, and risk assessing, and SOP review., • Full Clean Driving License, or working towards this. Why join us? • Training in organic chemistry methods, as well as GC-MS, TGA and other instrument training, • Join an ambitious startup at the forefront of the climate tech revolution, • Collaborate with a team of passionate professionals in an innovative and supportive environment, • Play a key role in scaling groundbreaking carbon-negative technologies, • Competitive salary and future potential for share options/equity Company Benefits • Flexible working hours: Work 8 hours between 7am–7pm, Monday to Friday (flexibility available on request), • Private health insurance, life assurance, access to mental health support services, • Participation in the company’s standard pension scheme with a 5% contribution, • Fun and engaging off-site team building days – past activities have included e-biking in the Cotswolds and raft building in South Cerney, • Access to company e-bikes for commuting or leisure use, • Free parking on-site at Wild Hydrogen HQ, • Annual leave: 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays), • Your birthday off as an extra day of leave, • Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) Share Options Scheme, • Opportunity to grow your career, supported by training and development How to Apply Please send your CV and a cover letter explaining why you’re the right fit for this role to . Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Be sure to highlight your experience in relation to the essential skills and responsibilities outlined above. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We are committed to building a fair, inclusive, and supportive working environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Recruitment decisions are made on skills, potential, and values alignment. We actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds and experiences, and we are committed to removing barriers to ensure that we attract and retain the best and brightest talent. If you require any adjustments during the interview process or have specific needs in your working style, please let us know when applying. We will always do our best to accommodate you. By fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are celebrated and collaboration is the norm, we aim to reflect the communities we serve and help deliver a cleaner, fairer energy future.