UCR Group / Materials Innovation Division

R&D Placement Student (12 months)

Hold your own R&D project in coating and surface engineering, starting summer 2027.

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About the role

R&D Placement Student (12 months)

UCR Group's Materials Innovation Division is seeking to recruit two placement students starting in the summer of 2027.

These roles are for students undertaking an undergraduate degree in Chemistry or Materials Science, with the opportunity to spend 12 months in industry as part of the degree programme.

The division develops and proves new solutions for coating and surface engineering applications. You will hold your own R&D project and take it forward by optimising coating processes and parameters, developing formulations for electrolytic processes, and building the evidence that moves promising results towards an application area. You will be thoroughly supported by the team and experts in the area.

You will not be confined to a single technique, and will gain exposure to a range of methods and stages of R&D work.

  • Contract

    12-month, full-time, on-site, 37.5 h per week

  • Location

    Southampton, UK

  • Salary

    £27,000

  • Reference

    MatD2611

  • Application deadline

    12/11/2026
    Advert may close earlier if suitable candidates are found.

  • What you will work on

    • Design and run experiments to optimise coating processes and parameters, and evaluate how those changes affect the resulting material.
    • Develop and refine formulations, and assess their performance in electrolytic processes.
    • Characterise samples using techniques including SEM, XRD, nanoindentation and electrochemical characterisation.
    • Develop and document test methods where none exist.
    • Run application trials to establish how coatings behave under conditions representative of end use.
    • Record, analyse and present your results, and contribute to the division's wider technical work.

  • About you

    • Currently undertaking an undergraduate degree in Chemistry or Materials Science, with the opportunity to spend 12 months in industry as part of the degree programme.
    • Practical experience of health and safety in a lab.
    • Keen to learn, organised and able to collaborate effectively in a team, with good communication and record-keeping skills.
    • Based in, or willing to relocate to, the Southampton area.
    • Right to work in the UK.

  • What you will gain

    • An R&D project that you will own.
    • Practical experience across the full route from characterisation and method development to application trials.

  • What we offer

    • A supportive and collaborative environment, with ownership from day one.
    • Training and structured support.
    • The opportunity to be an integral part of the Materials Innovation Division.
    • 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays.

  • Recruitment timeline

    • Application deadline: 12th of November 2026
    • First interview: November to December 2026
    • Second (final) interview: December 2026 to January 2027
    • Start date: Summer 2027 (exact date can be discussed)

About UCR Group

Universal Collaboration Research (UCR) Group is a UK-based developer of energy technologies and advanced materials. UCR's work sits at the intersection of advanced power engineering, materials science, plasma technologies and industrial decarbonisation, taking on the problems where conventional approaches are reaching their limits. The objective is to develop engineering architectures capable of delivering meaningful gains in energy efficiency, system resilience, material performance and industrial sustainability. UCR's work is led by two key divisions.

  • Electronics and Energy Technology Division

    Develops circuit-level solutions addressing how power is generated, stored, and transferred: using less, losing less, and drawing more from the power available. UCR's Inductive Capacitor Device reduces energy consumption in electrolytic processes by more than 60%, with applications including Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation. The division works to embed new solutions into applications across renewable energy, energy storage, electrification, and advanced manufacturing.

  • Materials Innovation Division

    Focuses on developing and proving new solutions for coating and surface engineering applications. Building on UCR's advanced low-energy Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) and other plasma processes, the division is extending it into novel coatings and new capabilities, enabling materials innovation for harsh environments across aerospace, hydrogen production, energy, and industrial manufacturing.

Programmes are run via a collaborative model with universities, research organisations, industrial partners and other key stakeholders.

How to apply

Interested in this role?

Apply by sending your CV and cover letter detailing your suitability and motivation for the role to careers@ucrgroup.co, quoting reference MatD2611 and your first and last name in the title. Any questions can also be directed to the same email address.

Apply: MatD2611
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Equal opportunities and accessibility. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. All candidates are assessed on their skills and potential, regardless of any protected characteristic. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please contact careers@ucrgroup.co to discuss your requirements.