Mike Flute

Covering Letter and Curriculum Vitae

** ***** *****

Kingswood

Westbrook

Warrington

United Kingdom

WA5 7XT

8th November 2013

RE: Associate Chemist

I am very interested in the above position as an Associate Chemist. I believe that the post and

chemistry involved perfectly combine the different aspects of my experience to date: I have acquired

valuable synthetic organic/catalysis experience within the pharmaceutical industry and pioneering

research groups, and more recently, in roles at Ineos Technologies and Afton Chemical, I have

broadened my chemistry and have gained considerable knowledge of the process, chemistry and

analysis involved in more industrial environments.

As you will see from my CV, I graduated from the University of Liverpool in July 2010 with an

MChem (Hons) degree. My degree combined academic rigour with practical experience acquired

during a 12 month placement with GlaxoSmithKline. My MChem research project was conducted

under the supervision of Professor J. Xiao in the Liverpool Centre for Materials and Catalysis. The

chemistry and methodology developed during my project should be eligible for publication in a

prestigious journal in the near future.

During my degree course, in addition to developing a sound theoretical understanding of organic and

physical chemistry, I also acquired industrial experience during the year spent working as a Medicinal

Chemist at GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage. Contributing to research in such a well renowned,

pioneering pharmaceutical company not only greatly improved all aspects of my synthetic organic

laboratory skills and theoretical knowledge but also developed my team-working skills, presentation

aptitude and time management. Managing my project predominantly independently built a great

foundation of drug design and synthesis, as well as a fundamental knowledge of biology of the

respiratory system.

I am currently employed as a Research Scientist for Ineos Technologies (Vinyls), to develop novel

additives used in the production of Polyvinyl chloride on a laboratory scale, optimise, analyse and

advance to pilot plant scale. PVC recipe development for more focussed licensee/customer work is

also a significant part of the role.

I am fully competent in the use of chemistry software, such as Chem/IsisDraw/eLNB/SciFinder,

molecular modelling software as well as presentation software, databases and writing correspondence.

I am also well practised at keeping a professional and calm attitude while managing the many

challenging issues that can arise in a busy scientific/industrial environment.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this application, I very much look forward to hearing from

you.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Flute

Associate Chemist

Application

Mike Flute

Covering Letter and Curriculum Vitae

Name Michael Flute Address See Covering Letter

Date of Birth 1st August 1988 Mobile 079**-******

Sex Male E-mail acas6a@r.postjobfree.com

Nationality British NI number JG 60 70 89 B

Education

2006 To 2010: University of Liverpool:

Masters in Chemistry (Hons) with a Research year in industry: Degree Classification: 2ii (59%).

2004 To 2006: Carmel College – A level qualifications.

Biology (AS Level: B, A2 Level: B), Chemistry (AS Level: A, A2 Level: B), Mathematics (AS Level:

B, A2 Level: C), Physics (AS Level: C), General Studies (A2 Level: C).

1999 To 2004: St. Cuthberts R.C. High School – GCSE level qualifications.

10 GCSE Level Qualifications including Science, Mathematics & English: Grades A* to B.

Employment History

January 2012 - Present Research Scientist – Ineos Technologies (Vinyls) Primary responsibility is

the development of novel additives for use in PVC polymerisations, predominantly the synthesis and

analysis of organic peroxide initiators and their implementation in ITV licensed process. HPLC, GC

and titrimetric methods have been developed to monitor formation, stability and degradation of these

highly sensitive molecules. I am involved in new granulating agent research and customer focussed

work, such as recipe development and downstream/processing projects. Responsible for the reporting

and presentation of projects, liaison with licensing and commercial team to stay focussed to

engineering design and customer requirements. I am part of a successful team, in which a high level

of responsibility is divided amongst a tiny number of employees. Completed Ineos led “Manager

Development Course” and several external technical courses.

May 2011 – December 2011 Technical Services Chemist – Afton Chemical. Analysis and

development of in-use Afton Metalworking emulsions, in addition to competitor concentrate analysis,

technical support during plant trials and leadership of novel product development projects more

immediate in nature or bespoke to particular customers. Responsible for several long term data

generation projects, the aim of which is to assess additive or product component performance and

rationalise results chemically. Also fully QC trained and able to provide cover for manufactured

product and incoming raw material testing, while adhering to GMP/REACH guidelines. Over 100

individual test methods employed to interpret structure, monitor stability and assess performance of

Associate Chemist

Application

Mike Flute

Covering Letter and Curriculum Vitae

products, emulsions and raw materials. Techniques briefly include wet chemical methods,

instrumentation such as GC, KF, KV, FTIR, XRF, auto titration and extensive application testing.

November 2010 – May 2011 Application Chemist – Polartech Limited. Solely responsible for a

large-budget, long term project investigating performance and properties of an extensive array of

experimental extreme-pressure additives for metalworking processes, and to understand, rationalise

and exploit the tribology and surface chemistry involved. This is in addition to on-going more urgent,

short-term Technical Service projects. Extensively developed existing methods for in-house

application testing of products, as well as proposing procedures for previously unused equipment.

Acquired status of “Applications Specialist” and provided distributors, customers or existing staff

with training, demonstrations and product development ideas. Gained hands-on experience of basic

petrochemical formulation as well as accompanying the Process Chemist on plant visits for trouble-

shooting and process monitoring. Attended several in-house training courses, as well as an external

BACS Surfactants course and a ThermoScientific Gas/Liquid Chromatography training event.

October 2009 – July 2010 MChem Project – The Xiao Group. Contributed to pioneering research

in organic synthetic chemistry methodology development, also potential applications into inhibition of

prostate cancer fatty acid binding proteins. The Xiao Group is at the forefront of research into

Catalysis and its application to green chemistry. General organic laboratory chemistry skills were

refined, including manual column chromatography, parallel reactions, design of synthesis, proton and

carbon NMR and mass spectrometry.

September 2008 – August 2009 Student Medicinal Research Chemist – GlaxoSmithKline.

Contributed to research towards discovery of respiratory drug candidates in a Research &

Development laboratory as part of a small, intimate team of synthetic organic chemists. During this

time, I was exposed to the broad scope of synthetic organic chemistry based around heterocyclic cores

that is involved during the Drug Discovery process. A brief summary of specialist synthetic methods

used include, parallel reactors, microwave synthesis, flow chemistry, hydrogenation equipment and

more traditional “wet” chemistry. Used analytical methods such as LCMS, HPLC, 13C/1H NMR, FTIR

and column chromatography on a daily basis to confirm identities and assess purity of compounds.

Led my project predominately independently and regularly gave presentations to large groups of

colleagues to update them of my progress and drive the project forward.

Summer 2005: Research Assistant – University of Liverpool Bioscience Department. Participated

in pioneering embryonic stem cell research, which involved daily lab work, collation and presentation

of results. Research that I contributed to and work that built on the results that we discovered were

later published.

June 2006 – November 2010: Walk On Extra – Hollyoaks.

September 2009 – June 2010: Waiter – Frankie & Bennys.

September 2006 – August 2008: Sales Associate/Lead Cashier/Loss Prevention Assistant - The

Gap.

Additional part-time work experience Nov 2003 – Nov 2010 can be provided on request.

Interests and Additional Skills

I am active and enjoy keeping fit, a member of a local gym and attend regularly. I play tennis for

“Lane TC” competitively in the Warrington District League. I play competitive five-a-side football

Associate Chemist

Application

Mike Flute

Covering Letter and Curriculum Vitae

and have represented many amateur teams in football and rugby. I am a keen musician, a competent

guitar player, and play drums part of a local band.

I have taken part in the “Duke of Edinburgh” award scheme, and achieved ‘Bronze’ level, having

completed two challenging expeditions. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and feel it has been very

rewarding, developing many qualities: perseverance, team building, stamina and problem solving. I

have completed a Sports Leaders/Coaching Award, to develop basic sports coaching skills and

techniques, I wish to develop this further by completing an LTA Grade 1 Coaching Qualification.

I am confident and outgoing and enjoy meeting new people. I have excellent communication skills

and enjoy interacting with people.

I hold a full, clean UK driving licence and have access to my own transport.

Referees will be provided on request.

Associate Chemist

Application

Contact this candidate