Careers
About Ossila
Ossila is a high-growth, high-tech business based in the UK looking to continue our rapid expansion over the next few years. Ossila currently employs around 35 people and continues to grow toward being a world-class organisation, helping to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery. We provide high quality materials and equipment that deliver high performance and low cost with outstanding customer support to the international scientific research community.
Approximately 75% of our sales are exported to over 1000 institutions in 70 countries and we have won prestigious awards for our innovation and exporting capabilities.
Vacancies
Organic Synthetic Chemist
Salary: £32,000 – £36,000
Type: 35 hours per week (nominally 9am – 5pm)
Start Date: As soon as possible
Essential Requirements
- PhD degree in organic or polymer chemistry
- Experience in synthesis of NFA or similar molecules
- Chemical purification and analytical skills
- Aptitude for problem solving
- Demonstrable desire for teamwork
- Desire to help a small business both commercially and scientifically.
Job Details
We are looking to expand our business rapidly in the next few years and as such are searching for an enthusiastic and dedicated scientist to join us and help us grow. We have recently built up a new synthetic chemistry lab in-house to accommodate both organic chemists and device physicists for our ever-growing business.
In recent years, non-fullerene polymer organic solar cells have been a rapidly developing area of interest for Ossila. We have historically been a major supplier for high-quality polymer and fullerene semiconducting materials to our customers worldwide and have been expanding rapidly into non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs). We are now looking for an organic chemist to synthesise a range of NFAs to meet the growing demands for such materials from our customers. The primary role of the NFAs chemist is to develop procedures for the scale-up synthesis of NFAs used in highly efficient bulk-heterojunction organic/polymer solar cells.
The candidate will be expected to develop a full category of NFAs such as ITIC, IEICO, IHIC and Y6 series to add to our existing and fast-growing materials catalogue. As such, it is desired that applicants already be familiar with the established synthetic and purification procedures for NFAs.
Key Responsibilities
- Synthesise batches of NFAs to customer and commercial demand
- Help with customer enquiries and technical support for the developed products
- Improve the synthesis and purification protocols to be cost effective while scaling up production
- Characterise and assess the purity of the products
- Develop new products to customer and market demand
- Prioritise work schedules to meet project deadlines and milestones
- Write and present project reports and to keep detailed records of lab work
- Develop new ideas for future products development
- Help maintain day-to-day running and housekeeping of the chemistry lab with co-workers to ensure safe and efficient working environment
- Learn the principles of Lean production and apply them to a chemistry environment
Candidate Requirements
The candidate should have a PhD in Organic Chemistry with specific experience of synthesising and purifying a range of NFAs or similar molecules with similar synthetic routes and purity requirements. Ideal candidates will have postdoctoral experience and the ability to hit the ground running to rapidly get new products synthesised and purified to the required quality.
Since this role will be at the interface of chemistry and small business, the candidates must have a strong desire to make their work a commercial success by building a portfolio of great products with excellent technical support at competitive prices. The desire to help customers is therefore essential.
We are therefore looking for the below essential skills:
- Specific experience of synthesis and purification of NFAs or similar molecules
- A desire to help customers and build a commercially successful range of chemical products
- The ability to learn and solve problems in a small team in both business and chemistry
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Independently formulate and execute experiments and other plans of work
- The ability to self-manage and effectively organise work schedules
- Highly organised and self-motivated
How to Apply
To apply, send a CV and cover letter to recruitment@ossila.com.
Please note that we are unable to sponsor work permits and therefore applicants must be either a European national or hold an existing UK work permit. No agencies please.
Cyclic Voltammetry Industrial Project to Develop Scientific Application Notes
Remuneration: £24,000 – £26,000 per annum on-site
Deadline: 21/02/2020
Duration: Casual off-site or 1-3 months on-site
Job Details
As part of our aim of accelerating scientific discovery we look to publish articles, application notes and guides on the materials and equipment that we sell. These are written by a range of people including PhD students working in new and exciting research fields, experienced postdoctoral researchers, engineers who develop our equipment, and professors who work in close collaboration with us.
We are looking for somebody with experience performing cyclic voltammetry to write detailed application notes and introductory content that both explains the method and provides a unique insight into the experimental process. This document will be published to complement the launch of the Ossila Potentiostat.
Candidates should be comfortable writing content that meets the following criteria:
- Concise, readable, and easily understood by an undergraduate student
- Contains considerable detail and insight into cyclic voltammetry
- Does not contain grammar, punctuation or spelling errors
- Follows styling that is consistent with other copy on the Ossila website
More guidance, including a starting document structure and a style guide, will be provided to the successful applicant.
This placement can take the form of ‘casual’ off-site employment or an on-site placement. Under the former arrangement, the successful candidate will be paid per word on delivery of either the full document or each complete self-contained section.
Alternatively, candidates can work at the Ossila office for a period of 1-3 months. The number and distribution of hours worked on-site per week can be agreed within the confines of 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Credit as a contributing author will be given when the page is published on the Ossila website.
Job Profile Requirements
The ideal applicant is someone with excellent comprehension of the English language who performs cyclic voltammetry on a regular basis.
Candidates should meet the following essential requirements:
- Degree in Physics, Chemistry or a related science
- Considerable experience performing cyclic voltammetry
- Excellent scientific communication and writing skills
- Excellent attention to detail
- Flexible and able to respond to feedback
- Communicative and comfortable working with in-house teams
- Ability to self-manage and effectively plan work schedules
- Highly organised and self-motivated
How to Apply
To apply, send a CV and cover letter to recruitment@ossila.com.
Candidates applying to work on-site must be eligible to work in the UK at the time of application (either an EU/EEA national or valid UK visa holder).