Senior Researcher: Chemistry at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for Senior Researcher: Chemistry in the Agro Processing Research Group within Advanced Agriculture and Food Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible to  scale up processes, in natural products extraction, within food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals market segments. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Undertake research in process and product development based on natural products across the value chain;
• Conduct Risk Assessments /HAZOPs for facilities and processes to ensure safe and technically feasible processes and methodology;
• Support development, operation, and maintenance of facilities utilities, such as steam chilled water, vacuum, and ventilation for the agro-processing chemical pilot plant, in conjunction with GMR 2.7/CSIR facilities/external service providers;
• Conduct and oversee equipment procurement, design specification, installation and operational specifications sign off and training;
• Draft, review and sign off on equipment and process Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Perform techonomic modelling, process costing and raw material costing;
• Mentor junior chemist and engineers;
• Identify and manage research opportunities to secure external contracts;
• Write and review research proposals for funding, research reports, client reports and peer-reviewed publications;
• Prepare reports, guidelines or other documents aimed at disseminating the results and outcomes of projects.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Master’s degree in chemistry with at least five years’ experience in an academic/industrial field;
• A Doctoral degree will be an added advantage;
• Experience working in a food, chemical, pharmaceuticals, and biologicals in a manufacturing set-up will be an added advantage;
• Experience and operation of HPLC/GC/NMR
• International tertiary exposure would be an added advantage;
• Natural products applied process and product development experience from discovery to scale-up (kilo scale/pilot scale);
• Understanding of chemistry, synthesis, and application of enzymes and chemical catalysts in chemical transformations in preparation of pharmaceuticals/active pharmaceutical intermediates;
• Downstream processing expertise / experience, extraction, spray drying, distillation freeze drying column chromatograph;
• Ability to work in a methodical manner is essential;
• Ability to interact with strategic stakeholders at all levels;
• Ability to present ideas, concepts, plan, and procedures;
• Ability to work independently and in a team;
• Excellent business management skills;
• Excellent people management skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Programme and project management skills
• Demonstrated track record of the ability to work accurately, independently, and efficiently;

Closing date: 01 August 2023