Principal Scientist Organic Chemist
Location: Pretoria
Offer: R900+k (neg)

Our client in The Polymers and Composites area has a vacancy for a Principal Scientist Organic Chemist to join their team in Pretoria. They focus on utilising polymers and composites as enablers in the fields of smart polymers, encapsulation and delivery, and non-wovens and composites.

You will focus on utilising polymers and advanced composite materials in the application areas of water treatment and purification, biosensors and detection, and delivery. You will be required to develop new and novel low-cost materials with tailored surface properties, prepared by simple synthesis routes and with improved performance compared to its competitors, thereby improving industry adoption.

We are looking for a highly creative and innovative candidate who has a track-record and vast experience in organic, synthetic or polymer chemistry and who is passionate about creating a better future through science.

Qualifications, skills and experience:
A principal chemist with an in-depth and fundamental knowledge of organic synthesis, surface functionalisation and polymerisation.
The ideal candidate will have a doctorate in the field of organic, synthetic or polymer chemistry.
At least five years of experience in organic or polymer synthesis.
Demonstrated independent creativity and innovation in new material development.
Track record of successful execution of projects and ability to successfully direct multiple scientific endeavours simultaneously.
Demonstrated laboratory skills with respect to characterisation instruments such as TEM, SEM, BET, XRD, Zeta Sizer, DSC and TGA.
Experience with analytical instruments such as UV-Vis, AAS, IC and ICP-MS, and FTIR will be advantageous:
Highly motivated and capable of working in a team with good interpersonal, excellent communication and collaboration skills and willingness to mentor, teach, share and learn.
A good track record in publication of research in peer-reviewed journals and proceedings of scientific conferences.
Experience with successful funding applications will be advantageous.

Key responsibilities:
Your key responsibility will be to use your extensive and proven theoretical and practical organic chemistry knowledge to provide technical leadership and practical guidance in the field of new material synthesis within the group. Other responsibilities will include:
Lead research projects towards product development including concept development; material design and synthesis; characterisation of new materials; and identify and verify performance of materials for specific applications.
Generate new intellectual property and/or know-how in the development of innovative low-cost materials.
Work in a team setting and motivate team towards achieving project goals.
Train and mentor researchers and supervise students (PhD and Master’s candidates), and transfer skills.
Write proposals to raise funds for research activities.
Publish research findings in reputable journals.
You will be expected to present, promote and defend their research ideas in cross-functional team settings.
Interact with current and potential stakeholders, as well as represent the project team in conferences, meetings and symposiums.

Credit, criminal, qualification and employment history checks are a pre-requisite for this position.
Should you not be contacted within 10 days please consider your application as unsuccessful.
Please note that correspondence will be entered into with short-listed candidates only.

Please take note that initial correspondence will be via email

Correspondence will be entered into with short-listed candidates
If you have not received a reply within 1 week please consider your application unsuccessful