Research And Development Scientist

R&D Scientist - (Food Packaging, Coatings & Advanced Materials)

Location: Lambeth, South West London (laboratory-based/ in-person role)

Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm (42.5 hours per week)

Salary: £30,000-£34,000 gross per year (depending on experience)

About Metalchemy

Metalchemy is an award-winning UK deep-tech company developing and commercialising patented sustainable coating and advanced materials technologies for food packaging and other high-impact applications.

Our mission is to create measurable environmental impact through the successful commercialisation of science. We develop antimicrobial and functional materials that help reduce food waste, improve product performance, and support more sustainable supply chains.

As a high-growth, commercially driven business, we work at the intersection of research, manufacturing, customer deployment, and innovation. Our technologies are protected by intellectual property, supported through grant-funded programmes, and developed alongside customers, manufacturers, universities, and industry partners.

We are also building a modern R&D environment that combines scientific expertise with Design of Experiments (DoE), AI-enabled workflows, and data-driven decision-making to accelerate innovation and scale impact.

At Metalchemy, we believe the greatest environmental impact comes not from research alone, but from the successful adoption of innovative products at commercial scale.

The Role

We are looking for an ambitious PhD-level scientist to help develop the next generation of coatings, food packaging technologies, and advanced materials.

The primary focus of the role is food packaging and food-contact materials, although you will also gain exposure to healthcare and other industrial applications.

You will work across a range of substrates including paper, fibre-based packaging, biopolymers, compostable materials, synthetic polymers, composites, and coated materials. Working alongside senior scientists and external partners, you will contribute to product development, customer projects, grant-funded innovation programmes, publications, patents, and commercial deployment activities.

This is a high-impact role offering significant responsibility, rapid learning, and strong progression opportunities. Within 6-12 months, you will be expected to contribute independently to research programmes, support multiple concurrent innovation projects, and become a trusted technical contributor across both scientific and customer-facing activities. 

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and analyse R&D projects focused on coatings, food packaging, antimicrobial technologies, and advanced materials
• Develop and optimise formulations, (bio)coatings, composites, colloidal systems, and functional materials
• Evaluate material performance across a range of packaging substrates and applications
• Conduct laboratory experiments, pilot trials, and validation studies
• Generate high-quality scientific data to support product development, customer projects, regulatory activities, publications, and commercial deployment
• Support customer trials, technical discussions, and application development activities
• Prepare technical reports, customer deliverables, presentations, publications, and case studies
• Present technical findings and project outcomes to customers, industry partners, funding bodies, collaborators, and at relevant industry conferences and events.
• Contribute to grant applications, funded projects, patents, and intellectual property development
• Support technology scale-up and transfer from laboratory to commercial implementation
• Work closely with technical and commercial teams to ensure innovation activities align with customer needs and business development objectives

Requirements

Essential

• PhD (completed) in Food Science, Food Packaging, Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or a related discipline
• Strong experimental research experience gained through doctoral studies
• Research experience in food packaging, food-contact materials, coatings, formulations, antimicrobial technologies, shelf-life extension, or advanced materials
• Excellent scientific writing, technical reporting, and presentation skills
• Strong data analysis and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• Excellent communication skills and confidence working with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders
• Interest in translating scientific innovation into commercially successful products

Highly Desirable

• Research focused on food packaging, active packaging, antimicrobial packaging, bio-coatings, edible coatings, barrier materials, or food-contact technologies
• Experience developing (bio)coatings, formulations, composites, functional materials, or advanced material systems
• Experience with silver-based materials, antimicrobial additives, nanomaterials, colloids, dispersions, or surface-engineered materials
• Experience working with paper-based packaging, biopolymers, compostable materials, synthetic polymers, or composite substrates
• Knowledge of food-contact regulations, packaging compliance, and food safety requirements
• Experience with industrial collaborations, grant-funded research, publications, or technology commercialisation
• Experience using Design of Experiments (DoE), statistical analysis, machine learning tools, or AI-enabled research workflows.

What Success Looks Like

Within your first year, you will:

• Contribute to and support the delivery of 3–5 concurrent innovation projects
• Deliver high-quality technical reports, presentations, and experimental outputs
• Contribute to customer projects, grant applications, publications, patents, and case studies
• Generate data that supports product development, commercial deployment, and business growth
• Build strong relationships with customers, academics, and industry partners
• Become a trusted technical contributor across both scientific and commercial activities

Why Join Metalchemy?

• Join an award-winning deep-tech company developing patented technologies with measurable environmental and commercial impact
• Work directly with experienced scientists, founders, customers, manufacturers, and industry partners
• Gain exposure to the full innovation lifecycle, from laboratory research through to commercial deployment
• Contribute to patents, publications, grant-funded programmes, customer projects, and new product development
• Work with modern R&D approaches including DoE, AI-enabled workflows, and data-driven experimentation
• Significant responsibility and ownership from an early stage in your career
• Strong professional development and progression opportunities based on performance
• 30 days annual leave including bank holidays