Research Technician

About the Role

We are seeking a Research Technician to support an industry-funded research programme on microwave-catalytic conversion of waste plastics into valuable C9 chemicals. Working under the supervision of Dr Michael Jie and in close collaboration with the industry funder, the successful candidate will carry out experimental work in response to project requirements, including catalyst preparation, reaction testing, product analysis and catalyst characterisation, while supporting process optimisation and scale-up activities within the research group.

About You

You will have relevant knowledge and practical experience in plastic upcycling technologies, including heterogeneous catalysis, thermochemical conversion, gas-phase reaction testing and the conversion of plastic waste into C3 chemicals. Knowledge of sustainable resource recovery, circular-economy principles, and techno-economic and/or environmental assessment would also be valuable. Experience contributing to patent applications or other intellectual-property activities is desirable.

About the School

The School of Physical and Chemical Sciences (SPCS) at Queen Mary University of London is a large, multidisciplinary and research-intensive school within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. While it is built around the core disciplines of Physics, Astronomy, and Chemistry, it also incorporates data science, reflecting a growing emphasis on computational and data-driven approaches across science.

The School has a diverse and active community, with over 900 undergraduate students, more than 100 postgraduate taught students, around 115 postgraduate researchers, and approximately 150 academic and professional staff. It fosters a highly collaborative culture, working across faculties and with industry partners and external stakeholders.

SPCS is primarily based at the Mile End campus, with facilities in the G.O. Jones and J. Priestley buildings that include advanced laboratories, workshops, and shared study and social spaces. Teaching is also delivered at the London City Institute of Technology and internationally in partnership with Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT) in Hainan, China.

Overall, the School offers a supportive and stimulating environment, combining traditional physical sciences with modern data science to deliver a broad, industry-relevant education and research portfolio.

About Queen Mary

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits

We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed-term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and campus facilities.

Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. We are open to considering applications from candidates wishing to work flexibly.

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