Salary: £34,000- £41,000 p.a. + a Training and Development budget of £5,333

This role will be based primarily at Sika Ltd in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.

Do you have a strong background in inorganic chemistry and/or geochemistry that can be transferable to study Portland or non-Portland cements produced from metallurgical slag? Are you familiarised with the design, characterisation and testing of cements? Are you keen to learn about chemical admixtures for cements, and their role in controlling cement performance? 

The University of Leeds is one of the top 135 universities in the world.  We have a truly global community, with more than 39,000 students from 170 different countries and over 9,000 staff of 100 different nationalities.  Established in 1904, we have a strong tradition of academic excellence, reflected in first-class student education, along with world-leading research that has a real impact around the globe.  

This is an exciting collaboration between Sika Ltd and The University of Leeds. It will be an ideal position for a driven, hard-working and enthusiastic individual with an interest in applied research with potential for significant impact in decarbonising future cements and concretes.

Sika Ltd is a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of construction chemicals, with sustainability and innovation central to their corporate strategy. The construction industry needs to rapidly find ways of decarbonising, to meet national and international sustainability targets. This KTP aims to contribute to such efforts by developing novel chemical admixtures for the development of binders based on blast furnace slag (BFS), a by-product derived from iron manufacture. This will be achieved by (i) conducting a market and regulatory analysis, (ii) carrying out feasibility studies for the production of slag-rich cements and (iii) developing chemical admixtures and cementitious products compliant with standards and codes. These activities will be complemented by knowledge transfer from all participants, and a tailored KTP associate training programme, including specialised courses delivered by the University of Leeds.

Holding a doctoral degree (or close to completion) in Materials, Chemical or Civil Engineering, Chemistry, Geology, or a closely allied discipline, you will have a good experience in slag-based cement materials, their design, characterisation and testing. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and be willing to learn and collaborate with a vibrant and dynamic team of researchers across the University of Leeds and Sika Ltd. 

What are the benefits of being a KTP Associate?

•    All KTP Associates spend 10% of their time on Personal Development, making full use of a £5,333 PD budget 

•    Access to two residential training sessions aimed at developing project management skills

•    Opportunity to gain both management and academic experience

•    Potential to fast-track a career in industry

•    Access to a wealth of academic resources

•    Access to a Travel & Subsistence and Consumables budget

•    Access to mentoring sessions through Innovate UK

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

ACADEMIC SUPERVISOR

Prof. Susan A. Bernal Lopez, 

Professor of Structural Materials & EPSRC Early Career Fellow 

E-mail: [email protected] 

COMPANY SUPERVISOR

Dr Martin Liska 

Research and Development Manager, Sika Ltd.

E-mail: [email protected] 

KTP COORDINATOR

James Hartford

Innovation Support Co-ordinator (University of Leeds)

E-mail: [email protected]