Research Scientist - Analytical

The Analytical team is focused on partnering with R&D, QC and Operations, across all business units, to solve technical issues and to enhance our commercial activities using advanced metrics. The Research Scientist - Analytical provides short-, medium- and long-term analytical support of the products and processes at overall the Vantage businesses. The incumbent is expected to act as a technical resource in separations and physical analytical techniques, develop and provide functional guidance to junior colleagues as well as taking leadership roles on interdisciplinary teams. This highly visible role has significant impact on the company by finding new ways of determining the usefulness and applicability of products, both new and existing, as well as processes to better meet customer needs. In addition, this role has regular interactions across all with the technology and commercial teams in the Vantage businesses.

Specific Responsibilities:
Manage analytical design and innovation for major R&D programs.

Apply expertise in chromatographic techniques (GC, HPLC, GPC).

Utilizes knowledge of other analytical instrumentation including ICP, FT-IR, NIR, DSC-TGA as well as wet chemical methods.

Use knowledge of analytical and organic chemistry to provide direction and general support R&D for products including reverse engineering of samples, analytical method and technique development, competitive and benchmarking analysis, product formulation and development, process development and field process support.

Confer with Company scientists, operations, technical service, regulatory and commercial teams to conduct analyses for research projects, interpret test results, or develop non-standard tests.

Develop, improve, and customize analytical methods and transfer these to QC.

Write technical papers and reports and prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products and tests.

Maintain accurate records of all laboratory work and research in accordance with generally accepted laboratory principles and ISO standards.

Provide detailed written reports of all completed projects with recommendations for future efforts.

Use knowledge of routine laboratory safety procedures, SDS’s and interpretations of hazards/toxicity data to perform all laboratory work in accordance with the written safety manual.

Provide technical support to cross-functional groups such as sales and marketing, product stewardship, sustainability, regulatory, technical service, and QC.

Provide technical input, direction and supervision to Scientist, Associate Scientist, R&D Technician as well as technical input/guidance to peers.

Skill Requirements:
Extensive experience in reverse engineering of samples.

Extensive knowledge of analytical instrumentation including GC, HPLC, GPC, ICP, FT-IR, NIR, DSC-TGA as well as wet chemical methods.

Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Computer literacy and proficient in commonly used business and scientific applications, including common research databases, search functions and statistical design of experiments.

Advanced speaking and report-writing skills for effective communication.

Strong mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems and to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.

Physical requirements are: Must be able to occasionally lift or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, good hand-eye coordination, and ability to adjust focus and to work frequently on a computer.

Vantage Culture Fit

Drives for Results Team Player Safety Mindset Shows ownership and initiative Customer focused Understands customer intimacy as core value Has an agile and solution focused ethic

Education and Experience:
Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry with one (1) to five (5) years of demonstrated experience in an industrial setting or M.S. in Analytical Chemistry with five (5) to ten (10) years of demonstrated experience in an industrial setting.