Doctoral Industry Fellow - Circular Manufacturing Systems

NEUVIOR Pharmaceuticals Ltd is a UK-based innovation company building next-generation circular manufacturing systems for high-emission industries. Backed by Innovate UK, we are delivering an 8-week feasibility programme (ZYLON™) focused on AI-optimised solvent recovery and bio-intelligent materials for net-zero pharmaceutical production. This is not an academic exercise. It is a commercially driven, funder-backed experimental programme designed to generate validated performance data and unlock Phase 2 industrial deployment.

The successful candidate will work directly with the Founder and CEO, operating at the intersection of process engineering, materials science, and sustainability analytics.

We are seeking a final-year PhD candidate or postdoctoral researcher to lead experimental execution of an Innovate UK-funded circular manufacturing feasibility project. This role carries full ownership of experimental design, data integrity, and validation across two work packages: (1) solvent recovery optimisation and (2) bio-intelligent packaging material prototyping. The Fellow will operate with high autonomy in a shared UK laboratory environment, generating statistically defensible datasets suitable for grant reporting, LCA modelling, and investor diligence.

This is an industry-facing leadership role requiring execution discipline, not exploratory academic research.

• Design and execute baseline and optimisation experiments for solvent recovery systems.
• Conduct mass balance analysis, calculate recovery efficiency, and quantify experimental variability (SD, CV%).
• Implement structured Design of Experiments (DOE) to evaluate temperature, time, and configuration variables.
• Validate AI-predicted optimisation outputs through physical experimentation.
• Formulate and cast biodegradable polymer films (seaweed/cellulose composites).
• Integrate and test humidity-responsive sensor functionality; generate measurable response curves.
• Document all experimental activity to audit-grade standards aligned with Innovate UK compliance.
• Maintain calibration logs, lab notebooks, and version-controlled datasets.
• Deliver weekly technical summaries outlining performance metrics, risks, and next steps.
• Contribute to final technical report, LCA inputs, and Phase 2 technical roadmap.

• Final-year PhD or postdoctoral researcher in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Chemistry, Sustainable Manufacturing, or related field.
• Demonstrable hands-on experience with distillation, solvent recovery, reaction engineering, or separation systems.
• Strong statistical competence (ability to compute SD, CV%, interpret repeatability, and validate results).
• Experience designing and executing controlled laboratory experiments independently.
• Familiarity with LCA principles or sustainability metrics is advantageous.
• High organisational discipline with meticulous record-keeping.
• Ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced, founder-led environment.
• Legally able to work in the UK and access UK laboratory facilities.

• London-based execution (flexibility for Scotland if facility access preferred).
• Competitive project-based compensation.
• Potential co-inventorship, co-authorship, and Phase 2 involvement for exceptional performance.
• This role is ideal for a technically strong researcher seeking direct industrial impact, autonomy, and exposure to early-stage innovation leadership.