Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher x2

Job Title: Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher x2

Reference: 541

Department: Chemistry

Contract Type: Fixed-term contract

Fixed Term End Date: 31 October 2030

Hours: Full-time (1.0 FTE)

Closing Date: Tuesday 2 February 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 (DC3 and DC11) in the areas of synthetic organic chemistry, polymer chemistry and sustainable materials for electric vehicles. The successful applicants will join the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (DN) POLY4EV, working under the supervision of Prof. Remzi Becer at the University of Warwick.

POLY4EV is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement number . The network brings together fifteen doctoral projects on the design, synthesis, characterisation and modelling of polymer materials that improve the efficiency and sustainability of electric vehicles, in lubricants, thermal management systems and battery electrodes. The Doctoral Candidates will be trained in advanced polymer synthesis, formulation, rheology and performance testing, working with leading academic groups and with industrial partners.

DC3: Poly(2-oxazoline)-based copolymers for high-performance EV lubricants. The DC will develop a versatile synthetic strategy to a library of oil-soluble poly(2-oxazoline) copolymers, including copolymers with tunable thermoresponsive behaviour through composition and topology, and will integrate them in lubricant formulations as viscosity modifiers, relating polymer structure to performance. Co-supervision: Prof. Dimitris Vlassopoulos (FORTH, Greece) and Dr. Coralie Jehanno (Polykey, Spain). Secondments (3 months each): FORTH, Greece (rheology of polymers of different topology) and Polykey, Spain (kilogram-scale synthesis of the best-performing copolymer).

DC11: Designed polymeric binders for EV batteries. The DC will develop block copolymers comprising a poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) block, in different topologies, that dissolve in non-toxic solvents, and will test them in cathode formulations and coin cells to establish relationships between polymer structure, electrode microstructure and battery performance. Co-supervision: Dr. Jean Marshall (Warwick), Prof. Evelyne Van Ruymbeke (Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium) and Prof. Peter Dowding (Infineum, UK). Secondments (3 months each): Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium (rheology, including high-shear measurements) and Infineum, UK (kilogram-scale polymerisation of the most promising binders).

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 details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description (link here) .

About You

These Doctoral Candidate 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.

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.

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 webpagesto 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

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

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.