Research Executive - Future Clean, Cleaning & Formulation Science

JOB TITLE: Research Executive - Future Clean, Cleaning & Formulation Science

JOB FUNCTION: R&D

REPORTS TO: Home Care S&T Platform leader – Future Clean. Advanced Materials and Surface Science

SCOPE: Global

WORK LOCATION: Unilever R&D Bangalore

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose to: Brighten everyday life for all, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. 

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

CATEGORY OR FUNCTION INTRODUCTION:

Home Care is a global business with leading household cleaning and laundry brands such as Surf, OMO, Sunlight, Vim and Comfort. Our aim is to offer products that are unmissably superior, sustainable and great value.

We are organized to deliver growth and margin across three core categories: Fabric Cleaning, Fabric Enhancer, and Home & Hygiene. We have a portfolio of strong global brands, and a global geographical footprint.

Our strength is in emerging markets where we lead the industry through market development.

Within R&D, our team of world-leading scientists, researchers and professionals creates innovations that drive growth for our business and deliver positive impacts for people, society and our planet.

For more than 100 years, we have been using our differentiated science and technology to create the superior products and experiences our consumers love. 

JOB PURPOSE

Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. As a colloid and solution chemist in the Advanced Materials team you can bring leading edge science to the innovation of our next generation of Clean Future products through which we will deliver our bold new mission ‘to turn ordinary chores into extraordinary moments that don’t cost the earth’.

This mission is the promise we make to lead a transformation of the home care industry by setting new standards in product superiority and sustainability for the benefit of our consumers, our partners and Unilever too.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

• Colloid and Interface Science Knowledge: Maintain working knowledge in the field. Stay updated with the latest research and advancements in colloid and interface science.

• Hypothesis Development: Formulate and test hypotheses to address the technical questions to enhance product and material performance.

• Experimental Design and Execution: Participate in experimental design and demonstrate excellent experimental skills to generate reliable data towards gaining insights and testing hypothesis.

• Capability Building: Assist in development of capabilities in colloid and interface science.

• External Collaboration: Execute key activities arising out of external collaborations and joint development on new materials.

• Data Capture: Capture data in standard electronic templates available for R&D.

• Data Analysis and Presentation: Analyse data and present findings to the team using appropriate tools. Keep updated with digital tools, and champion in-silico first where relevant.
  

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

Qualifications and Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or master’s in chemistry with a good understanding of formulations and interface science.

• Experience of 2 years in industry or academia is desirable.

• The candidate will have working knowledge in one or more of the following areas

• Surfactant Characterization: Understanding the role and behaviour of surfactants in detergents, awareness or hands on experience in characterization techniques.

• Emulsion and Foam Stability: Knowledge of how to create and stabilize emulsions and foams, which are crucial in many detergent formulations.

• Rheology: Ability to measure and interpret the flow and deformation behaviour of liquid detergent formulations.

• Particle Size Analysis: Skills in techniques for measuring and controlling the size distribution of particles in colloidal systems.

• Interfacial and Solution Property Measurement: Proficiency in measuring and manipulating interfacial properties surface tension, critical micellar concentration, phase behaviour to optimize cleaning performance.

• Microscopy Techniques: Experience with microscopy methods (e.g., electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy) to analyse colloidal structures.

• Analytical Techniques: Familiarity with techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurement, Chromatography and spectroscopy for characterizing colloids.

• Formulation Science: Basic understanding in designing and optimizing detergent formulations for performance and storage stability will be an added advantage. Knowledge on interactions of key ingredients in a formulation as key design principle.

• Thermodynamics and Kinetics: Understanding the thermodynamic and kinetic principles governing colloidal stability and interactions.
  

Skills

• The applicant should have an attitude to learn and demonstrate skills in

  • Data Quality and Generation: Emphasize the importance of generating precise, complete, and accurate data from legitimate sources, following Standard Operating Practices.

  • Data Storage and Accessibility: Store data centrally in a structured manner using appropriate tools, ensuring it is accessible, understandable, and reusable by others.

  • Data Utilization and Value: Recognize the need for proper data annotation, error correction, and understanding how data is used in R&D tools to create value.

  • Technical communication: communicating science to different audiences.
    

Leadership

• You are energized by delivering fantastic results. You are an example to others – both your results and your resilience. You are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others along the way.

• As an individual you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Consumer and what they need. You are humble and have your head up, looking around to interpret evidence and data smartly, spot issues and opportunities to make things better.
  

Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviours

• DELIVER WITH EXCELLENCE: Takes pride in our execution, develops breakthrough solutions, best in reality execution

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion 

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life! This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.