Polymer Chemist

Who are we?
Mykor is an award-winning biotechnology company developing carbon-negative materials for
the construction industry. The company’s proprietary custom-engineered insulation products
perform like foam but, unlike polystyrene, they are renewable and circular with no
compromise on thermal performance and fire resistance. Mykor’s flagship product, the
MykoSIP, is an insulating and acoustic panel system manufactured with cellulosic waste and
fungi-based binders. Our mission is to decarbonise the construction industry by
manufacturing carbon-negative materials made from waste resources.
Location: Bristol, UK
Job Type: Full-time
We are looking for a Polymer Chemist:
We are seeking a Polymer Chemist / Formulation Chemist to join our biotechnology startup
developing next-generation polymer-based biomaterials. The role focuses on the design and
optimisation of formulations, understanding processing behaviour, and enabling
extrusion-based manufacturing pathways.
You will work at the interface between polymer chemistry, biomaterials science, and process
engineering, translating laboratory-scale polymer systems into materials that are scalable,
processable, and biologically functional for industrial applications.
This position is ideal for someone passionate about bridging fundamental science with
real-world manufacturing.
Key Responsibilities:
Design and formulate polymer systems for insulation applications (e.g. protein-starch
matrices, hydrogels, composites, inorganic networks);
Optimize material formulations for viscosity, stability, degradation rate, and
mechanical performance;
Develop solvent systems, additives, and crosslinking strategies towards low-density
materials for insulation applications;
Develop and optimize extrusion-based processing (e.g. extrusion cooking, melt
extrusion or solution extrusion);
Translate lab-scale formulations into continuous or semi-continuous manufacturing
processes;
Troubleshoot extrusion parameters (temperature, shear rate, pressure, die design);
Ensure material consistency and performance during scale-up (e.g.; expansion,
density, unit consistency, etc.)
Analyse extrusion products, polymer and formulation properties (rheology, thermal
behavior, molecular weight distribution, hardness, moisture adsorption, durability,
pore volume);

Conduct biocompatibility and degradation testing for construction and insulation
applications (circularity, VOC emissions, fire performance, biological resistance, etc.);
Work closely with biotech and process engineers, product developers, and
manufacturing teams;
Support prototype development for construction insulation materials;
Contribute to process transfer from R&D to pilot production;
Maintain detailed formulation records, process parameters, and experimental data;
Support intellectual property documentation and regulatory submissions;
Planning and execution of hands on experimental work towards novel building
materials
Production of high quality reports and dissemination of results internally
Prototype fabrication of novel materials of interest
Iterative improvement of materials and processes towards thermal and acoustic
insulation materials
Broad responsibilities spanning chemistry, engineering, and product development

Qualifications:
Master’s degree or PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or
related field
High emphasis on process scalability and manufacturability
Hands-on experience with polymer processing techniques, especially extrusion
cooking
Understanding of rheology and flow behavior of polymer systems
Experience with analytical tools (e.g. spectroscopic techniques including FTIR, flow
dynamics techniques including rheometers, mechanical characterisation techniques,
surface analysis techniques(e.g. SEM), thermal characterisation (e.g. Heat flow
meter characterisation), compositional analysis, and physical characterisation)
Knowledge of structure property relationships in polymers and biobased networks
Problem-solving mindset for process optimization and scale-up challenges
Strong foundation in polymer chemistry, formulation science, materials science, or
food science

Desirable:
Experience in polymer processing, extrusion cooking, or biomaterials strongly
preferred
Frequent iteration between formulation design and extrusion performance
Fast-paced development of biomaterial products from concept to prototype
Strong lab-to-manufacturing translation skills

Experience with and understanding of insulation materials, highly porous and or
expanded materials.
Experience with inorganic networks and or organic polymer systems
Experience working with and processing biomass based starting materials
What We Offer
At Mykor, we provide an engaging and hands-on role in a pleasant and flexible work
environment. The tasks are diverse, offering the opportunity to acquire various practical
skills. As a dynamic and youthful company, our production methods and Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs) mirror this energy, allowing space for personal and professional growth
within the organisation. You'll be part of a welcoming team atmosphere. Our culture holds
significant importance, defined by the pillars of "Innovation. Transparency. Sustainable
Growth." These principles form the bedrock of our operations, rooted in our values of
ambition, responsibility, integrity, and efficiency.
● Salary up to £38000 annually (depending on experience) + equity options.
● 22 days holiday + bank holidays.
● Permanent contract.
● Flexible working hours with paid breaks.
● Private health insurance (Bupa).
● Annual self-development budget (£500+).
● Yearly team retreat abroad + monthly team events.
● A chance to shape the future of construction with meaningful climate impact.
Diverse and Inclusive Culture
Mykor values equal opportunities and strongly encourages applicants from traditionally
underrepresented backgrounds. We aspire to ensure that every member of our team feels
esteemed, respected, included, and heard. We actively promote diversity and stand against
any form of discrimination.
As a small company with limited resources, we regretfully cannot provide feedback to
unsuccessful candidates. Nevertheless, we sincerely appreciate your interest and thank you
for considering us. If you think you can make a real impact on the success of Mykor, we
would love to hear from you.
Application Process
● Stage 1: Email CV + cover letter to ines@mykor.co.uk
● Stage 2: Video interview
● Stage 3: In-person interview with Head of R&D + Head of People
● Stage 4: References (post-offer)
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
Start Date: 1st July 2026