Placement Student - Automation

The successful candidate will gain experience using and innovating with our state-of-the-art automation robots. They will also learn and understand the characterisation and data analysis of the formulations they generate, both automated and manual, and which are fundamental to their associated market such as batteries, personal care and pharmaceuticals. They will be responsible for technical and scientific support to CPI's existing automation systems, including generating and optimising the workflows used by automation kit, as well as maintaining and running them. Students will work collaboratively on research projects, analysing and reporting data back to the project lead.

About the role

This role gives you the opportunity to join an established team already working to support projects in Energy, Pharmaceutical, Home and Personal Care, and Advanced Materials markets. During this placement, you will support and strengthen the current capabilities of the team in support of exciting new capabilities, such as mobile robotics, which are being developed at CPI.

About the team

The mission of the Automation and Digital team is to employ cutting-edge digital and physical technologies to drive innovation in the formulation sector. Our goal is to facilitate efficient and high-quality data collection and integrate state-of-the-art modelling and simulation into our work. By combining our digital expertise with industrially relevant knowledge, laboratory automation, high-throughput experimentation, and state-of-the-art process characterization, we offer comprehensive solutions for companies looking to expedite innovation across new and existing product lines.

• In our Automation lab, we have robots to automatically dispense, mix and test a wide range of materials. These facilities are used in commercial and collaborative projects to develop new and improve formulations for a wide variety of applications including paints, coatings, lubricants, personal care products.


• In support of these activities our digital team works with our organisation to use digital tools and methods to support our automation. We process our data to provide information and insights for our customers . We do this by making use of an Electronic Lab Notebook, structured data capture, databases, visualisation software and custom-developed software for analysis.


Some exciting projects we have recently worked on are:

Constellation (Energy Sector): This project used AI and automation to optimise the performance of battery cells for the electric vehicle (EV) market.

Narrator (Nanopharma): The application of state-of-the-art digital techniques and automation to explore Lipid Nanoparticle manufacture to support RNA vaccines and therapeutics.

DIY4U (FMCG): The generation of a fabrication lab combining an automated platform with digitally enabled manufacturing for the fast customisable, at point of purchase, fabrication of FMCG products such as laundry detergent.,
• To present and formally report experimental conclusions and supporting data for internal peer review and submission to clients, to agreed timescales and standards.


• To actively engage in hazard studies / SRA studies and discussions, as appropriate to role level.


• To support the set-up, plan and execute experimental / pilot scale runs and analyse, interpret, and report the results of these within agreed timescales and quality standards, and following project/ client requirements.


• To take ownership in agreeing to weekly work plans with the line manager, project manager(s) and other relevant stakeholders, and delivering the plan to the agreed schedule.


• To support the maintenance and calibration of equipment to ensure it operates in a safe and efficient manner and is available to meet customer needs.


• To maintain consistent and documented compliance with all relevant Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE), quality and best practice requirements.


• To keep self up to date with developments in areas relevant to role, and/ or legislative and SHE related changes as communicated by senior colleagues, ensuring understanding of these and any associated new best practice, methods, or techniques.


• To take responsibility for general housekeeping of technical areas, to contribute to a safe and healthy workplace.
  
  Our automation is used to increase the throughput and quality of data collection in the optimisation of new and existing formulations. We do this in support of all our markets and by working with us you will be able to gain experience across a variety of technical areas, such as Battery materials, personal care and pharmaceuticals. This will depend on your area of interest and project availability. Our ideal candidate can be from a range of scientific disciplines but will be looking to gain practical experience in a more laboratory-based role. Previous experience of handling robots and automation equipment is not required for this role., You will be studying (or have recently completed) a minimum of HNC or Degree level (or equivalent) in a Scientific/ Engineering discipline.


No previous experience of automation is required.

You will have demonstrable skills in technical problem solving, with the ability to demonstrate evidence of knowledge sharing and network-building practice across teams or groups. You will be able to apply your own judgement and initiative to the role, as well as an understanding of when to seek advice from colleagues.

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., At CPI we work with our partners to translate inventions into products and processes that enhance health and well-being, protect, and improve our environment and increase productivity across industries.

With a deep understanding of innovation processes and funding, outstanding technical expertise, and industry relevant assets, we enable products and processes to be quickly and cost-effectively brought to market. This supports the development of next-generation manufacturing, highly skilled jobs, and economic growth for the UK.

Our partners operate across many diverse markets including pharmaceuticals, speciality chemicals, food and drink, electronics, and transportation., 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.

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., At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, including family friendly policies, flexible holidays and holiday purchasing schemes, opportunities for learning and development, generous pension plan, life assurance and accident insurance schemes.