Analytical Chemist Research Assistant

Job Description

Job title: Analytical Chemist Research Assistant

Company: Cardiff Metropolitan University

Job description: The ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University provides food businesses with technical, operational and commercial support to enable them to compete more effectively. ZERO2FIVE employs experienced food and drink technologists, business specialists and senior lecturers and professors. Collectively, this team specialise in all aspects of food and drink processing, manufacturing, operational and technical issues. ZERO2FIVE is able to draw on expertise within Cardiff Metropolitan University which includes internationally recognised experts in food science, nutrition, dietetics, food legislation, environmental health, trading standards, new product development and biomedical sciences. Our team of internationally recognised food industry experts are available to assist our clients across a variety of food disciplines including baking, dairy and meat technologies, hygiene management, packaging design, technical management systems and new product development. The business team can provide marketing, market analysis, new product development, financial and trade engagement support. We can also assist companies in sourcing funding, a major stumbling block in the development of many businesses. The state-of-the-art facilities within ZERO2FIVE are available for use by businesses and schools. These include a consumer sensory suite, 4 pilot sized plants, a development kitchen and a consumer research kitchen.

The opportunity

This analytical chemist research assistant role provides the opportunity to work within the research team at the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre (FIC) at the Cardiff Metropolitan University School of Sport and Health Sciences. The sustainable food science and technologies research group undertakes research and contractual projects related to the sustainable innovative processes within food science as well as investigating novel technologies for valorising food waste into high-value bio-renewable products.

The post holder will be responsible for designing, carrying out and reporting results of research or consultancy projects in timely and on budget manner. Research activity will involve working with a number of different chemical techniques, including but not limited to extraction, separation and purification. The post holder will also be responsible for the day to day running of a various analytical equipment in the laboratory, planning their own workload and completing laboratory work to a high standard. There will be opportunity, and support, to publish findings within academic journals and present at national and international conferences. There will also be opportunity for the post holder to gain experience in supervising BSc and MSc research projects, full specialist training will be provided to the successful applicant.

What you’ll do – key duties

• Undertake basic research for example by preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcome of experiments
• Undertake general chemical analysis and method development.
• Conduct literature and database searches.
• Write up results of own research
• Contribute to the production of research reports and publications.
• Build internal contacts and participate in internal networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for future collaboration.

What you’ll bring – essential experience & strengths

• Experience and training of using performing chemical extractions on various materials.
• Ability to support the development of and plan research objectives, projects or proposals.
• Ability to employ appropriate methods for disseminating research findings.
• Ability to communicate and disseminate complex and conceptual ideas in a variety of ways – presentations at conferences, reports on findings, publications, feedback etc.
• Ability to develop productive working relationships as part of a professional team.
• Ability to work collaboratively on research projects through the development of appropriate partnerships.

Why join Cardiff Metropolitan University?

In 2020, the University was named The Sunday Times ‘Welsh University of the Year 2021’; in 2021 it became the Times Higher Education ‘UK and Ireland University of the Year 2022’; and in 2022 it was ranked the top university in the UK in the People and Planet Green League.

In addition, the University offers highly competitive terms and conditions including:

• Annual leave of 25 days, rising to 30 days after 1 years’ service, plus 12 bank holiday / concessionary days (pro rata if part time).
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme with generous contributions.
• Flexible and remote working opportunities.
• Excellent family friendly policies.
• Award winning sports and fitness facilities with subsidised membership, plus subsidised physiotherapy/complementary therapy/sports massage.
• Access to all library facilities.
• Salary sacrifice schemes including cycle to work.
• Free family access to our independent specialist wellbeing support provider, Health Assured.

If you would like to talk with us about this opportunity please contact Professor Chris Wallis, Professor of Sustainable Food Science and Technologies, email at

Should a high volume of applications be received, we may need to close this vacancy early. We therefore encourage you to apply as early as possible.

The University is committed to creating a highly inclusive culture. We offer family friendly and flexible working arrangements and a range of staff networks, forums and events to support and develop our people. We warmly welcome applications from those traditionally underrepresented in the higher education sector.

Further information

Please read our or visit our for information about working for us, our culture, benefits, work-life balance and our career progression and development opportunities.

Expected salary: £27979 – 32982 per year

Location: Cardiff

Job date: Sun, 14 Jan 2024 08:18:52 GMT

Apply for the job now!