An international conference covering thin polymer films including polymer crystallisation, polymer brushes, glass transition, soft nanotechnology. Deadline for abstract submission is July 31st 2008. Confirmed speakers include:

Jan Genzer: Creating heteropolymers with adjustable monomer sequences via templated chemical “coloring”
Wilhelm Huck: Polyelectrolyte Brush Amplified Electroactuation of Microcantilevers
Elie Raphaël: Dewetting Dynamics of Thin Polymer Films
Jürgen Rühe: Wetting of Surfaces- How important is the nanoscale?
Tom Russell: Capillary wrinkling of floating thin films
Tony Ryan: Polymer Crystallisation: Influence of flow and interfaces
Ashu Sharma: Self-organized Adhesion and Pattern Formation in Elastic Solid Films
Jens-Uwe Sommer: Polymer Brushes at moderate and high grafting densities: Effects of chain stretching and end-groups
Uwe Thiele: Rupture and coarsening pathways for dewetting two-layer films and films of binary mixtures
Ophelia Tsui: Examination of Non-liquidlike Behaviors in Molten Polymer Films
Uli Wiesner: Nanostructured Metals from Soft Designer Macromolecules
Mitch Winnik: Living self- assembly of block copolymers into fibre-like structures in solution and from surfaces

PolyFilm conference website

In this issue:

• Meeting the solar challenge – how scientists at the IRC are working with colleagues around the UK to develop conjugated polymers for new, large area, photovoltaic devices.
• Looking forward to Polymers in Society - this year’s Polymer Showcase. This meeting will cover medicinal polymers, waste management, and sustainable energy. It will also look forward to the next 50 years of polyolefins.
• Wonderland – where art meets (polymer) science
• Training opportunities
• Towards greener plastics - FaraPack Knowledge Shop on sustainable packaging
  Review of Faraday Discussion 139: The Importance of Polymer Science for Biological Systems and the Polymer IRC Club Spring Meeting
• Prof Phil Coates, Director of the Polymer Engineering IRC and Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Bradford, recognized in the 2008 Swinburne Award.

Download your copy below:

Polymer Links, June 2008 - issue 11 (548kB)

The brochure for the 2008 course is now available, with full details about the modules offered, and how to reserve your place:

2008 Course brochure

The role is to generate robust experimental data and analysis on the compatibility of materials and the integration of inks into ink jet printers. Incorporating a high level of practical experimentation with method development and data reporting. The successful applicant will be educated to degree level in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, or a related subject.

For further details and how to apply, please see the document linked below. Vacancy posted 19th June 2008, no closing date given.

Vacancy with Domino

Weetwood Hall, Leeds

Plastic, plastic packaging and their impact on the environment are hot topics. More significantly, they are also complex, causing confusion and chaos in the commercial market place. Drivers and solutions do not appear to be joined up - the outcome being plastics taking a political and media battering.

This one-day event, organised by Faraday Packaging, will explore how a supply chain committed to true sustainability can beat the odds and drive towards a sustainable plastics operation.

It brings together the leading company practioners, representing the whole packaging supply chain, who will describe how they are responding to the challenge of the sustainable plastics agenda.

The companies sharing their insights include Dow, Innovia Films, Alliance Boots, Nextek Ltd and The Co-operative.

Please visit the link below for more information on venue, programme and registration:

Towards Greener Plastics website

Molecular Nanostructures from Fabrication to Applications - the Snomipede project aims to a adapt near-field optical techniques (capable of 9 nm resolution) to massively parallel operation, offering nanometre scale spatial resolution, combined with exquisite chemical selectivity, over macroscopically extended areas.

This open day will provide a selection of highlights from our workon the development of new instrumentation and new chemistries for device fabrication. Additionally there will be presentations by JuergenRuehe(IMTEK, University of Freiburg), Duncan Sutherland (iNano, Denmark) and Peter Beton (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham).

For a programme and further details, please download the registration document linked below:

Snomipede open day

Lubrizol’s Chemical Synthesis Department at Hazelwood has a vacancy for a Research Chemist. The successful applicant will be part of a diverse and innovative group of scientists generating new ideas and applications that impact our business worldwide. You will be expected to interact daily with our commercial, analytical and performance testing departments in Hazelwood and Wickliffe, Ohio; pilot-plant and production facilities throughout the world and our main synthesis laboratories in Wickliffe to achieve this end. You will also be expected to help draft patents on your inventions, work closely with Universities, write detailed technical reports and undertake molecular modelling.

Vacancy posted 3rd June 2008, no closing date given. Please see the job description linked below for further details and how to apply:

Lubrizol synthetic chemist

Sheffield based DIAMOND Dispersions manufacture high quality superfine dispersions for the global inkjet ink industry. Diamond wish to strengthen their R&D and technical capability by recruiting a graduate chemist. The role will initially involve undertaking product quality analysis checks and some lab based R&D. Part of position will be providing technical support to our global customer base. As the role develops it is anticipated that the jobholder will play a significant role in all development projects undertaken within the company.
Vacancy posted 15th May 2008, no closing date given. Please see the attached document for further details:

Chemist with DIAMOND dispersions

The Polymer IRC has been selected by the Polymer Innovation Network (P.I.N.) to co-ordinate and deliver technical foresight activities and create innovative knowledge transfer projects in the polymers sector. We are looking to appoint a highly motivated individual with the ability to think imaginatively and with a proven track record of delivering results. You will have excellent organisation and communication skills, be a team player and able to work across academic and industrial boundaries.

Vacancy posted 13th May 2008, closing date 28 May 2008. Please see the attached document for further details:

PIN/Foresight programme manager

The Materials and Processes Laboratory at GM R&D has an opening for a Research Scientist/Engineer to work in one of these areas: carbon fiber composites, damage and fracture of polymer composites, electroactive polymers, or biosustainable polymers.

Vacancy posted 25th April 2008, no closing date given. Please see the attached document for further details:

Research Scientist with GM