RESEARCHER – ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Reporting to: Lab Manager

Salary:           To be negotiated, based on experience

Location:       Nottingham, UK

About Nova Biochem

Nova Biochem is a climate-tech company pioneering the transformation of industrial by-products into high-value, sustainable chemicals. Using our proprietary hydrothermal depolymerisation process, we convert lignin-rich residues from pulping and agriculture into renewable aromatic building blocks used in coatings, plastics, and resins - replacing fossil inputs and cutting emissions at the source.

Our mission is to unlock a circular, low-carbon model for industrial chemistry – creating new value from waste while reducing millions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Based in Nottingham, we’re entering a scale-up phase, expanding lab and pilot operations, delivering a €7.5M EU-funded project, and laying the groundwork for commercialisation.

This is a pivotal moment to join a small, mission-driven team determined to reshape the chemical industry through practical innovation.

The Role

We are seeking a Researcher in Organic Chemistry to advance Nova’s depolymerisation technology delivering a product development project contracted by one of the top 10 food & drink company. You will be a part of two-person team working hand in hand to deliver a solution to a challenging problem within a dedicated time period.

This role focuses on scientific discovery, conceptual development, and analytical evaluation. You will analyse new raw materials, develop new reaction hypotheses, and identify innovative pathways to convert Nova’s intermediary aromatic building blocks into target molecule – terephthalic acid or its precursor: p-xylene. By the end of the project the goal is to experimentally prove a feasible (commercially and technically) route by generating a batch of 5-25g of target molecule from Nova’s feedstock.

You will collaborate closely with lab manager and operations team (who will provide you ample starting material and support with analytics), providing chemical insight, setting up experiments, and data interpretation that will guide the company’s future product and process roadmap.

Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute research plans to solve clearly defined problems, aligning experimental work and analytical studies with project goals and timelines. Analyse Nova’s aromatic product blends and recommend the right formulations or reaction pathway for target products and customer applications.
• Generate and evaluate new product, process, or method concepts leading to target molecules. Enhance yield, selectivity, and processability.
• Prepare and present technical reports, visual data summaries, and recommendations and evaluate with the lab manager.
• Deliver high-quality experimental data, mechanistic insights, and reports that feed directly into Nova’s innovation pipeline and partner deliverables.
• Work with a high degree of independence while collaborating closely with a second researcher, the Lab Manager, and other scientists to deliver results efficiently and creatively.
• Support process scale-up activities by providing chemical insight and ensuring smooth transfer of developed knowledge to operations.
• Maintain compliance with Nova’s quality system requirements and promote safe laboratory practices at all times.

Essential Skills / Experience

• PhD or equivalent industry experience in Organic Chemistry, ideally with 1–2 years of leading research or 3–5 years of relevant R&D experience
• Hands on experience with aromatic chemicals alteration chemistry (adding/removing functional groups)
• Applicants with a background in Chemical Engineering and strong knowledge of the organic chemistry are also encouraged to apply
• Excellent communication, data presentation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills.
• Proven ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and handle multiple projects simultaneously in a dynamic environment.

Desirable Skills / Experience

• Experience in depolymerisation reactions of polymers based on aromatic rings; especially breaking C-C bonds between aromatic rings.
•    Experience working in organic chemistry, chemical upgrading, or polymer laboratories; experience in petrochemical or industrial R&D involving aromatic systems is also valued. Demonstrated ability to conduct experiments and analyse data using multiple analytical instruments (GC-MS, GPC, HPLC etc.).
• Strong problem-solving and hypothesis-driven thinking skills.
• Knowledge of product characterisation, or chemical upgrading is an advantage.

Who You Are

You are an experienced researcher who planned several research projects in the area of organic chemistry and specifically in the area of alteration of aromatic molecules. You are willing to take on a challenging task which will create an industry-wide impact offering circular aromatic products to the markets.

You are seeking perfection in planning and execution and expect only excellent results from your colleagues and yourself. You are excited to take on a challenge that other failed to overcome and thrilled to work in a fast paced startup environment.

Why Join Us

At Nova Biochem, you’ll join a small, ambitious team translating breakthrough science into real-world impact. As part of our founding lab crew, your work will directly support the development and reliability of our analytical and process operations.

You’ll have the freedom to experiment, the tools to learn, and the opportunity to see your results contribute to improving how we measure, validate, and scale sustainable chemistry. Every method you refine and every insight you uncover will help strengthen the foundations of a cleaner, more circular chemical industry.

If you are driven by precision, curiosity, and purpose, and want to see your work make a tangible difference, we would love to hear from you.