Student Placement (Fixed Term)

CV-Library
Loughborough, Leicestershire
13 months ago
Applications closed
Posted
17 Apr 2025 (13 months ago)

Are you in an active university course, studying Materials Science/Materials Engineering/Chemistry or related scientific degree subject?

Here at Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions (SGIS), we're looking to bring in 3 students on 1-year Scientist placements to start mid-August 2025

SGIS provide an extensive range of high-performance solutions suitable for a wide range of applications across the residential, commercial and RMI sectors in the UK, and our Scientists play a key part in both product development and optimisation to form part of those solutions to our customers.

The roles will be based at our site in East Leake, working Monday-Friday 36.25 hrs per week.

What will I be doing?

Hands-on laboratory work on projects using a range of skills and knowledge gained.
Development and testing of gypsum-based construction products
Shadowing our experienced colleagues and being guided through tasks.
Supporting the department on key tasks and projects, working both independently and within teams with constant support, guidance, and mentorship from our specialised colleagues What's on offer?

The exciting opportunity to gain invaluable experience with our engineering function.
A competitive salaryWhat will I need to be considered?

Relevant degree in Materials Science/Engineering/Chemistry or related Scientific discipline (minimum of 2 years of studies completed)
Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle.
Ideally you will have used Microsoft suite software.
Strong team working skills
A desire to learn, develop and grow.
The confidence and vision to look at, as well as challenge, existing ways of working.
The ability to interpret, analyse and understand data.Are SGIS and Saint-Gobain Inclusive employer?

Saint-Gobain is the worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction improving daily life through high-performance solutions. From wherever you are, let your unique personality and our values guide you every day to invent a more sustainable world.

We understand that a diverse workplace is not only a more enjoyable place to be, but also facilitates better decision making and innovation. So, whoever you are, and whichever Saint-Gobain business you join, you can be sure of a warm welcome with us.

And what about flexibility?

The world of work is changing. At Saint-Gobain, we're always open to new ways of working. Everyone has different needs and commitments. We'll happily discuss any need you might have for this role: flexible hours, job-sharing, part-time working, or anything else that matters to you. We can't promise to meet every request when we're recruiting. But we do promise to listen.

If you match our criteria, we will be in touch to discuss your experience and more about you as a person, we look forward to hearing from you

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Where to Advertise Materials Science Jobs in the UK (2026 Guide)

Where to advertise materials science jobs UK in 2026: specialist boards, academic channels and societies that reach physicists, chemists and metallurgists. The candidate pool spans physicists, chemists, metallurgists, ceramicists, polymer scientists and computational materials researchers — a highly multidisciplinary community with distinct professional identities, academic networks and job search behaviours. The strongest candidates are typically embedded in university research groups, national laboratories, government-funded programmes or deep tech R&D teams, and move between roles through specialist academic channels, professional societies and sector-specific networks rather than mainstream job boards. This guide, published by MaterialsScienceJobs.co.uk, covers where to advertise materials science roles in the UK in 2026, how the main platforms compare, what employers should expect to pay, and what the data says about hiring across different role types.

Materials Science Jobs UK 2026: What to Expect Over the Next 3 Years

Materials Science Jobs UK 2026: roles, salaries and the trends shaping UK materials science hiring over the next three years — from batteries to composites. Materials science sits at the foundation of almost every technology transition that matters right now. The batteries powering the electric vehicle revolution, the semiconductors enabling artificial intelligence, the lightweight composites reducing aircraft emissions, the biomaterials replacing damaged human tissue, the thin films making solar cells more efficient — none of these advances are possible without breakthroughs in the science and engineering of materials. And breakthroughs in materials science require people. The UK materials science jobs market has historically been one of the quieter corners of the STEM hiring landscape — important, deeply technical, and consistently in demand, but rarely the subject of the breathless coverage that AI or blockchain attract. That relative obscurity is beginning to change. The convergence of the net zero transition, the semiconductor sovereignty agenda, the advanced manufacturing investment wave, and the growing role of computational and AI-driven materials discovery is elevating materials science to a strategic priority for governments, investors, and employers in a way that is directly reshaping the jobs market. For job seekers, this shift represents a genuine opportunity — but one that rewards those who understand the specific technical, commercial, and policy dynamics driving materials science hiring rather than those who simply arrive with a materials science degree and expect the market to do the rest. The roles being created now are more interdisciplinary, more computationally demanding, and more commercially oriented than the materials science jobs of even three years ago. This article breaks down what the UK materials science jobs market is likely to look like through to 2028 — covering the titles emerging right now, the technologies driving employer demand, the skills that will matter most, and how to position your career at the leading edge of a discipline that has never been more consequential.

How Many Materials Science Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a Materials Science Job?

Materials science tools for UK materials jobs in 2026: how many characterisation, simulation (DFT, FEA), microscopy and lab analytics tools you really need on your CV. If you’re navigating the materials science job market, it can feel like the list of tools, techniques and platforms you should learn grows every week. One job advert mentions electron microscopy, another mentions X-ray diffraction, yet another wants experience with thermal analysis, spectroscopy, simulation software, statistical packages, manufacturing QA systems and more. With so many specialised methods and instruments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed — and to start thinking you need to know everything just to be considered. Here’s the honest truth most materials science hiring managers won’t tell you directly: 👉 They don’t hire you because you know every piece of equipment or software. They hire you because you can use the tools you do know to answer real questions, make reliable measurements and communicate results clearly. Tools are essential — no question — but they are secondary to problem-solving ability, scientific reasoning and experimental rigour. So the real question is: how many materials science tools do you actually need to know to get a job? The precise number depends on the role you want, but for most job seekers the answer is far fewer than you think. This article breaks down what employers really value, which tools are core, which are role-specific, and how to focus your learning so your CV and interviews stand out for the right reasons.