Unilever R&D Placements Port Sunlight

Are you currently studying a chemical, physical, mathematical sciences or related science or engineering degree? Is there opportunity for a year’s study in industry? Are you looking for work experience during the summer to boost your graduate prospects? Think about applying for a Unilever Research & Development Placement with one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies.

Successful candidates will help us to identify, develop and adapt the next generation of technologies that drive innovation in our products. You’ll be based at Port Sunlight, where over 700 scientists and engineers work on products as diverse as Dove, Sunsilk, Lynx, Cif, Sure, Tigi, Persil and Domestos. Each year, Unilever R&D files over 250 patents and produces approximately 300 peer-reviewed papers and conference presentations.

Who are Unilever?

No matter who you are, or where in the world you are, the chances are that our products are a familiar part of your daily routine. Every day, around the world, people reach for Unilever products. Unilever products touch the lives of over 2 billion people every day – whether that's through feeling great because they've got shiny hair and a brilliant smile, keeping their homes fresh and clean, or by enjoying a great cup of tea, satisfying meal or healthy snack.

What will I gain from a Unilever R&D Placement?

During your time at Unilever, you’ll gain experience of modern scientific techniques and the way in which they can be applied to deliver technical benefits. You will get the chance to be involved in patenting the material technologies that you help invent.

This is an ideal opportunity to learn about how to turn great science into great innovation in the marketplace. During the placement, you will interact with not only R&D colleagues, but with colleagues from safety/regulatory and marketing functions in highly multidisciplinary teams within Unilever. You’ll also have the chance to gain experience of interacting with chemical suppliers/academic collaborators.

What will I actually be doing during the placement?

You will have a real job from day 1. A typical day in work could be spent making a new hair conditioner or laundry liquid detergent in the laboratory, synthesising novel materials in the lab for future products, measuring the softness delivery of a new fabric conditioner or how well a laundry product removed tomato stains. You could also find yourself in our Hair Salon talking with consumers who have used the new shampoo that you and your team helped to develop. You could also be responsible for measuring the thickness of range of new liquid products in order to understand any difference and draw conclusions that you then report to your team. In developing all of our new products we ensure we respect the safety of our consumers and workers and our environment and you will have to have all of these aspects in your work plan.

What sort of people are Unilever looking for?

In order to work at Unilever you will need to be enthusiastic about making great products that consumers enjoy and value. You will have to want to work as part of team that includes members from any of the 70 countries in which Unilever is based. You will love science and want to understand how products work and how consumers respond to them. Most of all you will want to do this in an organisation that is committed to halving its environment impact while doubling the size of its business - this is a challenge that will excite and inspire you.

Candidates must possess good results from the initial years of a first degree in the chemical, physical or mathematical sciences (e.g. chemistry, physics, mathematics, chemical engineering, material science), as well as having an understanding of experimental techniques.

This is a direct entry scheme to Unilever Port Sunlight and is different to The Unilever Future Leaders Programme (UFLP) and their placements. You are eligible to apply for both.

http://www.unilever.co.uk/careers/careeropportunities/graduatesandstudents/index.aspx

Apply for a Unilever R&D Placement today and benefit from the following:

• Great work experience
• Good salary
• Training while you work
• Fantastic company benefits

Unilever offers both 12 month Year in Industry placements, 3-6 months International Placements as well as 10-12 week Summer placements. These placements are also available to European students.

If you’re interested send your CV along with a covering letter, specifying the area of placement you are applying for to jane.whittaker@unilever.com

For summer placements apply from April 2012.
For Year in Industry placements apply from September 2012 until the deadline of Friday 26th of October 2012.