Research Associate in Sustainable Polymer Recycling

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Job title Research Associate in Sustainable Polymer Recycling Job reference REQ
260335 Date posted 28/05/2026 Final date to receive applications 05/07/2026 Location Loughborough Package Specialist and Supporting Academic Research grade 6 from £35,608 to £41,064 per annum. Subject to annual pay award. Job description

Job description

Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering

Full Time, Fixed Term for 33 months

This role is not suitable for remote working and is office / laboratory based only. It is essential that the post holder has the ability and willingness to travel to national and international partners and undertake occasional short visits to project partners.

Join us and be part of a vibrant community at Loughborough University.

About the University

Universities are one of this country’s greatest assets. We’re educators, employers, innovators and pioneers. We shape culture and society.

At Loughborough, we strive for better, think differently, challenge convention and take action. We are passionate about finding solutions to the major problems faced by society and the planet and we create opportunities for those with the drive, the ambition, and the determination to apply themselves in the pursuit of better.

Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for:

We are looking for a motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate with a background in materials science, polymer science or a related discipline, ideally with experience in polymer processing and materials characterisation. You will bring strong experimental and analytical skills, a track record of research outputs, and the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary academic and industry teams.

You will be based within the Polymer Science group in the Department of Materials at Loughborough University, working closely with the SMART Centre and Sports Technology Institute. The role sits within a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment with access to advanced characterisation facilities and strong links to industry and policy partners.

This is a fixed-term post for 33 months, contributing to a major EPSRC and Defra-funded project on recycling synthetic sports turf. Candidates should have (or be near completion of) a relevant PhD, experience in polymer materials characterisation and processing, and a willingness to engage with industry partners, travel, and contribute to research delivery and dissemination.

Why should you Apply?

With huge amount of variety in the role, there is an opportunity for you to develop and continually grow.

If this sounds like the right place, team and role for you please do get in touch. We’d love to…