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    Arxada is a pioneering leader with a powerful legacy: Over 120 years of creating specialty chemicals and solutions that potentiate the performance of our customers and their products. Our solutions, our expertise and our support help them to perform better - to be more efficient, more effective and more sustainable. We are passionate about empowering high performance and enabling our employees, partners and customers to realize their full potential. Together we make daily life safer, cleaner, healthier and greener. If you like making a difference, we are the company for you!

    The role

    Arxada is looking for a R&D Chemistry Student Placement supporting the Global R&D, Hygiene, Home & Personal Care (HHPC) programme based at Arxada’s R&D hub in Blackley, UK. This 13 month fixed-term contract is part of our proven annual industrial student placement programme that provides an insight into a career within research and development. The length of the placement allows for an easy transition into Arxada’s chemistry team, by overlapping with the current placement students. This laboratory-based role supports Arxada’s Hygiene, Home & Personal Care programme through formulation development, performance evaluation and characterisation of prototype formulations.

    Key responsibilities:

    • Generate prototypes for formulation, efficacy testing and non-biocidal performance evaluation (e.g. cleaning properties, material compatibility, sensory testing) of said product systems.
    • Support or lead protocol development activities to refine testing methodologies.
    • Contribute to the development and fundamental characterisation of novel Hygiene, Home and Personal Care formulations, preservatives, and surfactant systems.
    • To participate and contribute to site and departmental safety activities.
    • Keep up to date lab-book, monthly report of work and write-up summary of findings during placement. Participate in HHPC team meetings and stakeholder presentations as required and be prepared to present and discuss own programme of work.
    • Exposure to research in industry; be introduced to various functions and roles at Arxada.

    Key requirements

    • Studying for a B.Sc or M.Sc. in Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science or Formulation Science.
    • Strong A-level results in physical sciences, especially chemistry.
    • Knowledge of physical chemistry and formulation science.
    • Ideally a knowledge or background in soft matter physics or surfactant chemistry.
    • Ability to draw own conclusions from data and make recommendations for next steps.
    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
    • Strong interpersonal skills with a willingness to learn and adopt new skills.
    • Confidence to present own work to a varied audience, ranging from scientific experts to non-scientists.