Seloxium Ltd. is an exciting and innovative spin-out company born from the University of Oxford with a passion for revolutionising clean growth and the circular economy in the mining and refining sectors. We are dedicated to selectively recovering valuable metals from in-process or effluent water streams during the mining & refining processes. With our state-of-the-art 'selective flocculation' technology, we are poised to transform the way these metals are extracted and processed, offering a greener and more sustainable solution for resource recovery and reuse.

In industrial process wastewaters and mine tailings, there are high-value metals like gold, platinum, and rare-earth metals that are difficult and expensive to remove using current methods. Sadly, these metals are often lost to the environment as 'sludge'. At Seloxium, we are developing our innovative SelectalTM technology to selectively extract, flocculate, and recover a wide range of these precious metals from process or waste streams. Our breakthrough 'Aqua Mining' approach not only helps combat environmental pollution, but also transforms process effluent treatment plants into resource recovery factories.

To learn more about us, visit our website: (url removed)

This position is for a lab-based Development Chemist. We are seeking a researcher with experience in polymer chemistry, metal removal methods, wastewater treatment, or a related field.

The primary responsibility of the role will be to plan and lead various projects at different stages of commercial readiness. As a member of Seloxium, you will have the opportunity to design and conduct experiments in synthetic organic chemistry and selective metal extraction using Selectal technology.

Being part of our growing company, you will also have the chance to contribute to all aspects of the business and receive support for any additional projects you wish to pursue. We value collaboration and encourage you to mentor junior colleagues within our small team. Furthermore, you should be able to effectively communicate technical information to individuals from different disciplines or non-technical backgrounds.

Requirements

• A relevant postgraduate degree (PhD, MSc, etc.) in fields such as chemistry, functional polymer chemistry, polymer-metal complexation, hydrogel polymer chemistry, or organometallic chemistry.
• Additional laboratory experience of at least 2 years (5+ years for master’s level candidates).
• Excellent knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry, preferably with the use of polymeric starting materials.
• Familiarity with metal coordination chemistry, including concepts like ligand field theory and HSAB.
• Proficiency in analytical techniques commonly used in organic and inorganic chemistry, particularly for solution phase polymeric species (e.g., NMR, chromatography, ICP, spectroscopic analysis).
• Experience in supervising and mentoring junior team members.
• Understanding of COSHH and risk assessments in a laboratory setting.
• The ability to transform customer input into technically and economically viable solutions.
• The ability to build positive relationships with colleagues and effectively resolve conflicts in a considerate and professional manner.

Desirable

• Familiarity with polymer-surfactant interactions and aggregation behavior.
• Familiarity with polymerization chemistry, polymer analysis, wastewater treatment, or alternative flocculation technologies.
• Experience or understanding of developing, scaling, and manufacturing chemicals on a pilot scale (>kg scale).
• Experience with selective metal separation technologies, such as ion exchange, membranes, solvent extraction, and electrolysis, in a manufacturing or environmental context.
• Working knowledge and experience of standard laboratory skills and techniques (e.g., solution preparation and pipetting, data analysis, methodology development).
• Experience working in an SME/Start-up environment.
• Experience with patents and intellectual property (IP) management.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package
• Extensive private healthcare coverage
• Minimum of 25 days of paid vacation per year, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Possibility for flexible working hours
• Generous pension scheme
• Engaging staff social events and team-building activities
• Support with a cycle-to-work initiative