Ashland Specialty Ingredients, GP

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving?

Then we'd like to meet you and bet you'd like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Junior Polymer Chemist to join our Specialty Additives business at our Wilmington, DE location. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the R& D function. This position will report to Senior / Staff Scientist for Specialty Additives Wilmington lab.

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan & execute EP reactions (batch/semi batch/starve fed) in lab reactors; set up pre emulsions, feeds, and initiator dosing; manage temperature profiles and exotherms
• Screen process additives (surfactants/emulsifier packages, protective colloids, defoamers, buffers, chain transfer agents, redox initiators) to determine effective dosage windows and process robustness
• Operate equipment: glass/stainless reactors, feed pumps, temperature controllers, nitrogen purging, filtration; follow SOPs for start up/shut down and cleaning
• Characterize latexes: solids, particle size/PSD (e.g., DLS), viscosity, pH, coagulum/filterable solids, zeta potential/stability; as needed, residual monomer (e.g., GC), Tg (DSC), gel fraction
• Analyze & document: maintain lab notebook/spreadsheets; ensure traceable raw data, calculations, and observations; write concise summaries and slides
• Collaborate & communicate with senior scientists on experimental design, DOE screens, and scale up handoffs; deliver results on time
• Lead with EHS & quality: chemical hygiene, PPE, waste handling, 5S, and risk controls for hazardous monomers and peroxides
• Actively contribute to the organizational goals by taking initiative, executing on goals and focusing on performance and safety
• Improve the organization capacity and capabilities through building collaborative relationships, optimizing diverse talent and utilizing positive communications and influence with others

In order to be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:

• A Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials/Polymer Science or equivalent years of experience
• 2-5 years experience in polymerization, organic chemistry, or specialty chemicals
• Familiarity with reaction operations (mixing, feeds, temperature control), emulsions/colloids, and basic data analysis; strong organization and attention to detail
• Effective teamwork and communication with a constructive, learning mindset
• Demonstrated responsible and ethical behavior at all times
• The ability to help the company drive greater value through understanding the business, making complex decisions and creating the new and different

The following skill sets are preferred by the business unit:

• Hands on emulsion polymerization (lab or pilot scale) for acrylic, styrene acrylic, VAE, or related systems
• Practical use of latex characterization tools (DLS/particle size, zeta potential, solids, viscosity, coagulum) and analytical (GC for residual monomer, DSC for Tg)
• Exposure to DOE/statistics (e.g., Minitab/Design Expert) and reproducibility planning
• Comfort with SOPs/EHS for hazardous monomers and peroxides; good lab housekeeping
• Understanding of coating systems and additive functions in waterborne systems (wetting/flow & leveling, defoaming, dispersion, rheology)

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer.

At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do.

Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty.

Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.

Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. NOTE: We do not accept resumes from external staffing agencies or independent recruiters for any of our openings unless we have a signed recruiting agreement in place to fill a specific position.