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About CPI
CPI helps make great ideas and inventions a reality. We’re a team of intelligent people using advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.
Through our incredible people and innovation infrastructure, we collaborate with our partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.
From health technologies and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and materials innovations, we turn the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of our people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world a better place.

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Why this role is important for CPI’s work
An exciting opportunity has risen for a Research Scientist – Digital Technologies to join the established Automation and Digital team within the Formulation’s business unit, based at NETPark, Sedgefield.
Our ideal candidate will exhibit the principles and practices in applied data science as gained through their education and/or career. You would then apply these techniques to innovation projects on behalf of the formulation industries which covers our key markets in batteries, sustainability, nanotherapeutics, FMCG, and food and feed. While a background in these industries is desirable it is not an essential component for a successful candidate in this role.
Reporting to the Team Manager, you will provide technical expertise and be developed in key strategically relevant areas of data science, machine learning and/or process modelling. Using these skills you will contribute to the delivery of projects with our clients by drawing upon a range of practical and theoretical knowledge in the mathematics related to data science. You will then provide advice and solutions to our internal and external stakeholders.
The Automation and Digital team’s mission is to deploy digital and physical technologies that improve the efficiency and quality when innovating in the formulation sector, and enabling the generation, curation and analysis of large data sets. We combine our digital skills with industrially relevant knowledge, laboratory automation and high throughput experimentation, and state-of-the-art process characterisation, to provide a complete solution for companies seeking to accelerate innovation for new and existing product lines.
The team works with companies and organisations of all sizes from global multinationals to 2‑person start-ups with project durations being from 1 month to 4 years. You will be exposed to an immense variety of projects: in scale (anything from 1 month to multi-year projects); in area of application (batteries, sustainability, nanotherapeutics, FMCG, food and feed sectors) and technical scope of the techniques used. You will be encouraged to explore new techniques (techniques both new to our organisation, and novel techniques emerging from academia). Training in new techniques — whether self-taught, peer training or through formal courses — is encouraged.
Some examples of recent projects in the digital space: -

• Working with global leaders to apply model predictive control to their formulations.
• Using clustering and correlation analysis to determine cause-effects or comparisons within datasets (e.g., developing models to predict soap stability, predicting best candidates for new ink materials)
• Creating a new automated platform for the generation and automation of lipid nanoparticles.
• Using PCA and clustering to glean real-time data from inline process measurements for enhanced process monitoring
• Developing soft sensors based on PLS and neural net models to predict slurry particle size and viscosity
• Implementing Bayesian methods and/or state-of-the-art methods for optimising the Design of Experiments approach. [LO1]

Key responsibilities:

• To support and contribute to the planning and scoping of technical work programmes within the Digital strategy (e.g. model predictive control, process modelling, data analytics, machine learning, and the application of digital technologies).
• To undertake the technical delivery of programmes of work in the digital strategy on existing data or data collected from own experiments and researches, and then analyse, interpret and report the results.
• To keep up to date with research and techniques relevant to the digital space (e.g. develop in statistical modelling techniques, the mathematical foundations of applied machine learning, skills in process modelling and control, skills in relevant coding languages) and to develop, implement and improve existing methods/technologies in the platform.
• To contribute to a culture of continuous development acting as an internal expert in data science using knowledge of principles and practices in the field to support non-data science colleagues.
• To develop and utilise own expertise to build data science capability within the business unit and act as internal consultant to coach others at CPI.

The person we are seeking
Will be educated to a minimum of a foundation degree (or equivalent) in a Scientific or Engineering or Mathematical discipline, or to an HNC or Foundation Degree level but with significant industrial experience in the application of data science in the prerequisite fields. It is highly desirable that you are educated to Masters/PhD and/or have relevant industrial experience.
You will possess technical expertise in the application of data science and digital skills. Examples of this could be (but are not limited to):

• The application of advanced statistical methods (e.g. PCA) and modelling to complex technical problem-solving.
• The mathematical foundations of applied machine learning
• The application of process modelling or implementation of model predictive control.
• The use of coding languages (python, R Matlab) to create digital solutions for efficient or novel problem solving.
• The demonstration of technical and theoretical knowledge in mathematics related to data science, and be viewed as a specialist in this area by peers.

You will exhibit understanding of the principles and practices in data science techniques gained through your career to date in an area of specialism.
You can demonstrate evidence of building knowledge sharing and communicating with non-specialist colleagues and stakeholders.
You can provide examples of actively building cross-team and business unit collaboration to achieve desired results.
Additional desirable experience and qualifications:
Chartered status with a relevant professional institution.

What does CPI* offer you?*
At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:

• Up to 36 days holiday, including bank holidays – Plus a holiday purchasing scheme
• Generous pension scheme
• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes
• Flexible working
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Free parking

Find out more about our culture and benefits.

Additional information
CPI is an organisation based in the UK. Commencement of employment is conditional to demonstrating right to work in the UK, sponsorship may be available.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £23,000.00-£38,000.00 per year