Polymer Characterization Scientist – Size Exclusion Chromatographer

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 Polymer Characterization Scientist to join our Measurement Science Team in Global R&D at our Wilmington, DE research center.

This specialized role focuses on using Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) as a primary tool for analyzing polymers.

This involves expertise in method development, sample analysis, data interpretation, and troubleshooting within the realm of SEC.

This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the R&D function.

This position will report to the Wilmington measurement science team lead.

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


* SEC Analysis and Characterization: Conducting a wide variety of SEC analyses to determine the molecular weight distribution, polydispersity, and potentially branching/architecture of polymers.


* SEC Method Development & Validation: Designing, executing, and optimizing SEC methods for various polymer types, ensuring optimal separation and accurate data.

Developing and validating methods for different solvents, columns, flow rates, temperatures, and detection methods.


* Data Analysis & Interpretation: Analyzing SEC data to obtain parameters such as number-average molecular weight (Mn), weight-average molecular weight (Mw), and polydispersity index (PDI).

Interpreting results to understand the polymer properties and behavior.


* Sample Preparation: Ensuring proper sample preparation procedures to prevent aggregation or degradation of polymers prior to SEC analysis.


* Troubleshooting: Identifying and resolving technical issues related to SEC instrumentation and methodology, including poor resolution, pressure fluctuations, or drifting baselines.


* Collaboration: Working closely with other measurement science and R&D, manufacturing, quality control, and external partners to address chemistry, materials and processing challenges.


* Documentation & Reporting: Maintaining meticulous records, creating detailed technical reports on SEC findings, and potentially preparing presentations for internal and external audiences.


* Staying Current: Keeping abreast of the latest advancements in SEC technology, including hyphenated techniques like SEC-MALS or SEC-NMR, and new column developments.


* Manufacturing troubleshooting and support: leveraging SEC technique for troubleshoot manufacturing and/or quality control challengers to ensure product consistency, quality and performance.

In order to be qualified for this role, the desired skills and exp...