14th May Jobroll

A selection of organic chemistry positions from the job boards:

Ascent Scientific, a biochemical company near Bristol, is looking for two newly qualified PhDs or graduates with experience to join them as synthetic organic chemists. The role entails manufacturing complex organic molecules, improve manufacturing capability and assessing projects for their potential profitability. Closes 17^th May.

Redx Oncology is recruiting three medicinal chemists (£28-36k) at their new drug discovery facilities in Liverpool. Pharma experience with knowledge of compound design and optimisation, and an aptitude for people management required. 

Celtic Catalysts is seeking a synthetic organic chemist (£25k+, 6month contract) to work in their small production facility in Middlesborough. GMP/non-GMP synthesis to 20L for custom and routine products. Industrial experience, including scale-up and knowledge of process development, required.

Charnwood Molecular, a CRO in Loughborough, is hiring medicinal and process chemists with several years relevant industrial experience. This includes either: parallel synthesis and knowledge of drug design/lead identification/lead optimisation; or scale-up from mg to gram to 20L.

Two organic development chemists are sought by a CRO/CMO in N Ireland to carry out gram synthesis, process development for scale-up, and support of projects in the kilo lab/pilot plant. Relevant industrial experience and familiarity with GMP required.

A chemical manufacturer in the South West is advertising for an R&D chemist to carry out process development, 20L non-GMP/GMP lab production, and plant support. Knowledge and understanding of process chemistry and scale-up, and experience performing batch reactions at 20L required.

The Experience Conundrum

A comment on yesterday’s post raised an interesting issue – how do you get the job you want when they ask for experience, but you’re fresh out of uni?

“So I need yet more training that the employer is unwilling to give me, must work for free, or go back in to education. After getting the degree that is!”

One key consideration is that a chemistry degree fulfills the basic prerequisite to getting a professional job, but it doesn't guarantee entry into the perfect position straight away.

Some jobs (like those in patents) usually do require either a conversion course or on-the-job training as standard. However, while the pay may be low during training, it should pay off after qualification. 

Other jobs (like yesterday’s software engineering role) may ask for experience, but it could be something you already have a relevant interest in. It might be a hobby (programming), related to additional modules chosen during the course (computer science), or be part of a Dual Honours degree.

Many positions (like EHS or regulatory affairs) are topics unlikely to be appropriately covered during a degree. Here is where graduates (and professionals looking for a career change) need to be creative and proactive in gaining experience when and where they can. 

For graduates, this may be choosing a less desirable job that requires little/no experience as a stepping stone to their career of choice. For professionals, it’s how to make the most of the time and resources available both in and out of the workplace. Either way, unless re-entering full-time education, it may be preferable to be earning a reasonable salary while gaining experience rather than opting for unpaid internships.

While an employer may be unwilling to train their new synthetic chemist in the latest EHS qualification, there are a number of ways relevant experience can still be gained at work:

• Show an interest in the subject (eg, help or join a safety committee, become a first aider)
• Take on jobs other people don't want to do (eg, writing Standard Operating Procedures and Risk Assessments)
• Research how the company systems work (eg, trawl the intranet, read training procedures and policies; include topics outside of your direct job role)
• Network with relevant people (eg, build a relationship with the EHS advisor)
• Access course materials or notes, either internally or from the internet
• Make the most of conference opportunities – network effectively
• See if funding is available for membership  to a professional body (eg, RSC) and continued professional development (eg, CChem)
• Keep up-to-date with journals and industry publications

One outcome may be that the EHS advisor moves on and you're suddenly the lead internal candidate for the job. Alternatively, the above demonstrates proactivity and practical experience, and allows you to discuss the topic knowledgeably during interview at another company.

For those committed to pursuing a new or preferred career, there are options for gaining experience outside of work:

• Evening classes at a local college
• Distance learning courses (from specific subjects that may take months, to comprehensive qualifications that take years)
• Books (teach-yourself about specialist branches of chemistry, languages, programming, maths, etc)
• Join LinkedIn groups and follow Twitter users and bloggers that discuss relevant topics
• Personal development in soft skills

…and Research, Research, Research – whatever industry, company or specific job you’re pursuing, read around the subject so thoroughly that when it comes to interview you can talk as though you already work there.

Finally, a note on the wording in job adverts: "desirable" and "preferably" are different to "essential" and "required" - they loosen the job spec for the agency, presumably allowing them to put more candidates forward. While not having a food technology qualification will place you lower down the list, a demonstrated enthusiasm for molecular gastronomy and the ability to dazzle the recruiter with your thorough research of industrial food processing technology may be enough to secure an interview.

In summary – getting the career you want can be a long-term play. Make the most of the jobs you can get, and the time that you have, to build the bridges to get there.

30th April Jobroll

With a degree in chemistry you can...

...restore a redundant nuclear site. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority are looking for a site restoration strategy manager (£40-63k) in Cumbria to act as a scientific expert and develop strategies for decommissioning facilities and remediating land. Preferably have a good general knowledge of site restoration, working with stakeholders and nuclear experience – but these are not essential.

...develop new drinks. An innovation centre in Hertforshire is recruiting a food/beverage scientist liquid developer (£35-45k) to manage projects – taking customer feedback and developing new, improved formulations. 2-5 years experience, including distillation, formulation and beer.

...create new baked treats. Based in East Anglia, but working with an international team, the bakery application technologist (£25-35k) will develop, prepare and present new sweet and savoury baked products for customers. Knowledge of food technology required – maybe this includes keen chefs?

...design and develop scientific software. Tessella have positions available for scientific software engineers (to £40k) at their Stevenage, Abingdon and Warrington branches, as well as in the US (Boston and Washington DC). Programming experience in at least one language required.

...advise on international chemicals policies that may impact the UK chemical industry. The RSC have created a new role - regulatory affairs specialist (£33-37k) – in Cambridge, to research and analyse these developments, and network and communicate them effectively. Regulatory affairs and policy work experience required.

...work with international clients as a patent attorney. London-based; 2-years experience in practice required.

...develop and maintain health, safety and environmental (HSE) systems. Working at two UK sites (inc Berkshire) with a range of facilities, the HSE specialist will monitor legislation and ensure corporate compliance. HSE experience and NEBOSH certificate desired.

24th April Jobroll

Because you’re an analyst and want to work in...

...London (£25k) as a senior analyst, and have experience in the field of drugs of abuse screening.

...Mid Glamorgan (£30k) as an analytical scientist, and have experience of MS, preferably in the food/environmental industries.

...Dundee (£28k) as a senior analytical scientist, and have experience in the pharmaceutical sector.

...Suffolk (£27-35k, 1 year contract) as an analytical scientist , and have experience working to GMP/GLP in pharma.

...Hampshire (£20-28k) as a lab analyst, and may have experience with lubricating oils.

...Berkshire (£28-30k) as an analytical chemist in materials characterisation, and have experience in elemental analysis.

...Dorset (£29k) as an analytical chemist, and have experience in pharma.

...Kent as an analyst at Peakdale Molecular - running their automated purification lab - and have experience with LCMS and prep-LCMS.

...Huntingdon (£30-35k) as a chemist at Anglian Water, and have experience in water industry labs.

...Surrey or Berkshire (£35k) as a senior analytical chemist, and have an excellent knowledge of LCMS, SPE and method development/validation experience.

19th April Jobroll

Diverse #chemjobs from across the job boards:

Drilling fluids scientist (£30-40k) – 6-month contract - based in Middlesex. BSc or PhD with experience of particle size distribution, fluid rheology and mineral analysis required.

Process development chemist at an FCMG company specialising in health & beauty products, based in Irvine, Scotland. Develop processes for new product development formulations from lab to pilot plant to production scale. Significant industrial experience with in-depth knowledge of equipment and process scale-up required. Experience of emulsion or colloid chemistry desirable.

Process development technologist at a company developing next-generation fuel cells/batteries, in Oxfordshire. Following prototype success, the company is moving development into pre-production and requires someone to lead projects across materials development, fabrication, process improvement and innovation. Degree, project management and supervisory experience required.

Health & safety advisor (£25-30k) at Johnson Matthey, in Berkshire. Ensure legislation and local policy compliance, and provide safety data for chemicals. Degree required; role will require studying for NEBOSH Diploma and other safety qualifications if not already possessed.

Environmental chemist (£26k) at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency – 2-year contract - based first in East Kilbride or Edinburgh, then North Lanarkshire. Provide information and advice on the behaviour, fate and effect of chemical substances in the environment. Experience of statistical analysis required. Apply soon.

Customer compliance chemist (£30k) for a pharmaceutical CMO in the South West. Provide customer support; qualify key documentation; reviewing and signing GMP/non-GMP documentation; handle analytical data; review legal agreements and give REACH stability. BSc and experience in customer compliance and auditing required.

16th April Jobroll

A selection of synthetic organic positions:

Conformetrix, a biotechnology company in Manchester, is recruiting medicinal chemists. Established as a spin-out from the University of Manchester in 2008, Conformetrix uses proprietary NMR-based technology to solve bioactive 3D structures of molecules, allowing it to develop its own drug portfolio and to partner with pharma companies. This appears to be an ideal opportunity for an experienced medicinal chemist, with at least 5 years’ experience at an influential project level and a strong publication record, to join a rapidly growing biotech. More information on the company can be found on their website.

Syngenta are recruiting synthetic and medicinal chemists at their Jeallot’s Hill site, near Bracknell. Working in the herbicide research group, the role involves the design and synthesis of new compounds as potential agrochemicals. BSC/MChem/PhD or relevant synthetic experience required; experience with a wide range of purification and analytical techniques essential.

A number of positions are available this month at Cancer Research Technology, a subsidiary of Cancer Research UK. Three medicinal chemists - two permanent, one 12-month contract – are sought, to develop novel cancer therapies. Jobs will be based in either Cambridge or Central London. BSc with medchem experience, or MSc/PhD with synthetic organic or medchem specialisation required.

A principal scientist medical chemist is additionally required in Central London to lead the design and synthesis of novel chemotherapeutics. Qualifications as per the junior role, with at least 5 years’ pharma understanding – preferably in oncology – and demonstrated line and project management skills.

Finally, MSD in Hertfordshire are looking for a process chemist to carry out the range of activities from process development to large-scale processing, to deliver active pharmaceutical ingredients. PhD with postdoc experience required. Apply by 18^th April.